Chess Puzzle #6n2kN — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks e1/f1; knight a6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop h6; pawns a7/c6/d5/e7/f7/g6/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e1→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king e8→e7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Re1+ — rook f1→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
4. Best move: Qxd7 — queen c7→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1Qqpp2/N1p3pb/3p4/3P4/2P2P1p/PP3P1P/4RRK1 b kq - 7 22

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