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

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook e3; bishop g5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks c8/e8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/d5/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook c8→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop g5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e7→f6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqr2k/1p2bQp1/p4np1/3p2B1/8/2N1R3/PPP2PPP/6K1 b - - 6 19

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