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

Position

White: king a2; queen g2; rook g1; knights c3/f6; pawns b2/f3/h4. Black: king f7; queen b6; rooks d4/e7; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf6 — king f7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke5 (king f6→e5).
3. Best move: Re1+ — rook g1→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Ne3 (knight c4→e3).
4. Best move: Rxe3+ — rook e1→e3, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, master, middlegame. The key move Rxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp2rk2/1qp2N1p/8/2nr3P/2N2P2/KP4Q1/6R1 b - - 1 31

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