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

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rooks e1/f1; pawns a2/c3/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook a8; bishop d6; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop d6→f8).
3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen a4→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight b8→d7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxa8 — rook e8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Re8+.

Position data

FEN: rn4k1/p2q1ppp/1ppb4/3P4/Q7/2P5/P5PP/4RR1K b - - 0 20

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