Chess Puzzle #Ay2X1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks d1/e1; pawns c5/d6/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks a6/e8; knight e6; pawns a7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e6→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d7→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen f5→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook a6→d6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qxd6 — queen c5→d6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/p2q2p1/r2Pn2p/2P2Q2/8/5P2/6PP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 28

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