Chess Puzzle #4v0Lb — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rook b5; bishop c1; knight e7; pawns d4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook e8; knight c3; pawns c4/d5/e6/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b5→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook b8→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d7→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc3 — queen a5→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/3qN1p1/4p2p/QR1p1p2/2pP3P/2n5/5PP1/2B3K1 b - - 0 31

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