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

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rook e8; bishop f1; pawns c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen a1; rook a2; bishop g6; pawns a7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb2 — queen a1→b2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re2 — rook e8→e2. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen b2→e2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bxe2 — bishop f1→e2, captures queen. Opponent replies Ra1+ (rook a2→a1, gives check).
4. Best move: Bf1 — bishop e2→f1.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is Re2.

Position data

FEN: 4R3/p4ppk/6bp/8/2Q5/2P5/r4PPP/q4BK1 b - - 1 32

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