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

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rook d5; bishop e1; pawns a2/b3/c4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rook e8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b6/c7/e2/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen e7→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3 — queen g3→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe3 (rook e8→e3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook d8→f8, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/p1p1q1bp/1p6/3R3p/2P5/1P4QP/P3p1P1/4B2K b - - 3 29

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