Chess Puzzle #J8Rme — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a1/e4; bishop h2; knight g3; pawns a4/b4/c3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks f8/g8; bishop b6; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/c6/f3/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg3 — rook g8→g3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e4→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen c7→d8).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook e8→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2rr1/1pqn4/pbp1Q3/7p/PP2R2P/2P2pN1/5PPB/R5K1 b - - 0 25

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