Chess Puzzle #8wiVE — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks b1/f1; knights e4/f3; pawns a4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks b8/f8; bishops b2/d5; pawns a6/d6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb2 — rook b1→b2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bxe4 (bishop d5→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxb8 — rook b2→b8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook e8→b8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e2→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxb2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/5p2/p2p2pp/q2b4/P3N3/5N1P/1b2QPP1/1R3RK1 b - - 1 26

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