Chess Puzzle #EJFZ4 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen b1; rooks b7/h1; bishop e2; pawns a2/c2/d5/f2/g2. Black: king f7; queen c3; rooks a8/e7; knight f6; pawns a7/d6/e4/f5/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook b7→e7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king f7→e7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qb7+ — queen b1→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight f6→d7).
4. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king e7→f6).
5. Best move: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/pR2rk2/3p1np1/3P1p2/4p3/2q5/P1P1BPP1/1Q3K1R b - - 2 24

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