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

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks f1/g5; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/d6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh2 — rook h8→h2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe5+ — rook g5→e5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d6→e5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen e3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen d7→e7).
4. Best move: Qxh2 — queen e5→h2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1p1q1p2/p2p2p1/3Pn1R1/8/1N2Q3/PPP4P/2K2R2 b kq - 0 21

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