Chess Puzzle #VwH0Q — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks b1/c1; bishop c6; pawns a2/c2/d5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen f5; rooks e3/e8; knights c5/d7; pawns c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook e8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen b4→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxb8 (knight d7→b8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook b1→b8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Re8+ — rook b8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king e7→f6).
5. Best move: Rxe3 — rook e8→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rk2/2pn1ppp/2Bp4/2nP1q2/1Q6/4rP1P/P1P3P1/1RR3K1 b - - 6 26

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