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

Position

White: king f1; queen c2; rooks e1/h3; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/c4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks d3/f6; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c5/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d3→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f6→f8).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
5. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e6→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp5p/5rp1/2p2pN1/2Pq1Pn1/1P1r3R/P1Q3PP/4RK2 b - - 3 25

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