Chess Puzzle #73uEL — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks e1/e2; bishops b3/g3; knight a5; pawns a4/b4/c3/f2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/e8; bishops a7/h5; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop h5→f3, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook b8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1qr1k1/bpp2p2/p2p1P1p/N5pb/PP6/1BP2QB1/4RPPP/4R2K b - - 0 25

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