Chess Puzzle #59akl — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rook c1; bishop f1; knight g1; pawns b4/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen a3; rook e7; bishop e4; knight g6; pawns a6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen a3→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook c8→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, master, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/4rppk/p5n1/6Q1/1P2b3/q6P/6P1/2R2BNK b - - 0 36

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