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

Position

White: king e2; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f2; knight e4; pawns a7/c6/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen d3→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Re8 (rook f8→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e4→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8+ (queen d8→e8, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxf2 — king e2→f2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, long, opening. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/p1pp1ppp/2p5/8/4n3/3Q1N2/PPP1KbPP/R1B2B1R b kq - 1 9

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