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

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/e1; bishop f4; knight e6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks c6/h8; bishops d5/f8; pawns a6/b7/c4/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook c6→e6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re5 — rook e1→e5. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen e7→d7).
3. Best move: Rxd5 — rook e5→d5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen d7→d5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Re1 — rook a1→e1. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
5. Best move: Re5 — rook e1→e5. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen d5→d6).
6. Best move: d5 — pawn d4→d5.

Tactical themes

advantage, collinear move, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Re5.

Position data

FEN: 2k2b1r/1p2q3/p1r1N1pp/3b4/2pP1B2/2P4Q/PP4PP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 24

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