Chess Puzzle #E4G4S — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks b1/e4; bishop d2; pawns a3/c4/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks e8/f8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/c5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen c2→e4, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen f2→d2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Qe7 — queen e6→e7. Opponent replies Qf4 (queen d2→f4).
5. Best move: Qxb7 — queen e7→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/pb4pp/1p6/2pP4/2P1R3/P6P/2QB1qP1/1R5K b - - 1 23

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