Chess Puzzle #ERAPr — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook d1; bishops a2/c3; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks e4/e8; pawns b5/c7/d5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen a6→b5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Re2 — rook e4→e2. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook d1→f1).
3. Best move: Qc2 — queen f5→c2. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen b5→d5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qxa2 — queen c2→a2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

clearance, equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Re2.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2p2pp1/Q7/1p1p1q2/1P1Pr3/P1B4P/B4PP1/3R2K1 w - - 1 30

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