Chess Puzzle #AJVZt — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks e1/f1; knight a4; pawns b3/e4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks c1/c8; bishop d6; pawns a7/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe1 — rook c1→e1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen g4→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen e7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen c8→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop d6→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook f1→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/p3q1pp/3b1p2/8/N3P1Q1/1P4P1/7P/2r1RRK1 b - - 4 29

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