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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks e1/e7; pawns a4/b3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/d8; pawns a5/b4/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/4Rpp1/2p4p/p2q4/Pp1P4/1P1Q3P/5PP1/4R1K1 b - - 7 32

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