Chess Puzzle #5Tcvf — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/e5; knights d5/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b4; rooks c8/h8; bishops d7/g7; knight d6; pawns a6/b7/e7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen b4→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen d3→c4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxc4 (knight d6→c4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxd7 — rook e7→d7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1p1bppb1/p2n3p/3NR1p1/1q1P4/3Q1N2/PPP2PPP/2KR4 b k - 3 18

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