Chess Puzzle #C0RTy — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rooks c1/e1; knight b5; pawns a2/d4/f4/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen f5; rooks d8/e8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g4/h3. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nd6 — knight b5→d6. Opponent replies Qe6 (queen f5→e6).
4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen a4→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen e6→e8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Nxe8 — knight d6→e8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1rr3/pp3pb1/8/1N1p1q2/Q2P1Pp1/6Pp/P6P/2R1R2K b - - 3 27

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