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

Position

White: king f2; queen h1; rook h2; bishop f3; pawns c4/d3/e2/g3. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook a2; bishop e8; pawns b2/d4/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen h1→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen a6→f6).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook h8→e8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king e7→e8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h4→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, master, very long. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4b1k1/5p2/q5p1/8/2Pp4/3P1BP1/rp2PK1R/7Q b - - 3 37

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