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

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks d1/e4; pawns a2/b2/f2/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks b8/d8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b5/d4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen d6→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rexd4 — rook e4→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxb3 (queen d5→b3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d4→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: axb3 — pawn a2→b3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, long, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1rbr2k1/7p/p2q2p1/1p3p2/3pRP2/1Q6/PP3P1P/3R2K1 b - - 1 23

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