Chess Puzzle #P06XR — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rook a8; bishop f6; pawns b4/c3/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen f5; rook f7; knight g6; pawns b5/c4/e3/e6/f4/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g6→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra7 — rook a8→a7. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen f5→g6).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook a7→e7, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook f7→e7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop f6→e7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Ra7.

Position data

FEN: R7/5r1k/4pBn1/1p2Pq1p/1PpP1p2/2P1pQ1P/6PK/8 b - - 5 37

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