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

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks g5/h1; knight c3; pawns b3/c2/e4/f6/h4. Black: king h7; queen b6; rooks b8/f8; bishop e6; pawns c6/d6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra8 — rook b8→a8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook g5→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qg5 — queen d2→g5. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen b6→e3, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxe3 — queen g5→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r2/5p1k/1qppbPp1/6Rp/4P2P/1PN5/2PQ4/2K4R b - - 2 26

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