Chess Puzzle #5ZQ80 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook e1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook a8; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen h5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg4 (queen d7→g4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, intermezzo, kingside attack, long, sacrifice. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp1q1p1p/n1p2p2/3p3Q/3P4/2P4P/PP1N2P1/4R1K1 b - - 0 20

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