Chess Puzzle #5VH8B — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook e1; pawns a3/b4/d3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen f3; rook d8; pawns a7/b7/c3/c7/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd3 — rook d8→d3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Rd8 — rook e8→d8. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen f3→d1, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxd1 — queen c2→d1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd1+ (rook d3→d1, captures queen, gives check).
5. Best move: Rxd1 — rook d8→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, very long, X-ray attack. The key move is Re8+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/ppp2pp1/8/7p/1P5P/P1pP1qP1/2Q2P2/4R1K1 b - - 1 30

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