Chess Puzzle #C5fNe — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g7; rook f1; bishop a2; knights b1/d5; pawns a3/c3/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b2/d7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re1+ — rook f1→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Ne5 (knight c6→e5).
3. Best move: Rxe5+ — rook e1→e5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d6→e5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen g7→e5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pppb2Qp/2np2p1/3N1p2/8/P1P4P/Bb3P2/1N3RK1 b kq - 4 19

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