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

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rook e1; pawns b2/b6/c3/c4/d6/f2/h3. Black: king b8; queen g5; rook g8; pawns a7/c5/d7/e6/f7/h6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra1 — rook e1→a1. Opponent replies Qg2+ (queen g5→g2, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxg2 — queen f3→g2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxg2+ (rook g8→g2, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxg2 — king h2→g2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Ra1.

Position data

FEN: 1k4r1/p2p1p1p/1P1Pp2p/2p3q1/2P5/2P2Q1P/1P3P1K/4R3 b - - 0 27

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