Chess Puzzle #Mggdg — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen e7; rooks a6/e1; bishop a3; pawns a2/c2. Black: king c6; queen f5; rooks c8/d7; knight h7; pawns a5/d4/f6/g5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb7 — king c6→b7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa5 — rook a6→a5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook d7→e7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e1→e7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen f5→d7).
4. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook e7→d7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/3rQ2n/R1k2p2/p4qp1/3p4/B7/P1P5/K3R3 b - - 12 40

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