Chess Puzzle #SOWji — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen a4; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g5/h2. Black: king e8; queen g4; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e1→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen a4→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp2bppp/2n2n2/6P1/Q2p2q1/2NB4/PP3P1P/R1B1RK2 b kq - 2 16

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