Chess Puzzle #9Cej9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks e1/f1; bishop h6; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishops d6/d7; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng3 — knight e4→g3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6 — queen c2→g6. Opponent replies Bf5 (bishop d7→f5).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen g6→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/ppqb4/2pb3B/3p4/3Pn3/2P2N1P/PPQ3P1/4RRK1 b - - 0 22

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