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

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rook d1; knight c4; pawns b2/e7/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen c8; rook b7; knight e8; pawns b4/c5/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen c8→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8 — rook d1→d8. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen c7→e5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxe5 — knight c4→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2q1n1k1/1r2Pp2/6pp/2p1Q3/1pN5/6P1/1P3PP1/3R2K1 b - - 2 32

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