Chess Puzzle #Xw76a — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks e1/f1; bishop d3; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/h6; knight b8; pawns a6/b5/c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe8 (bishop d7→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qe4 — queen f3→e4. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e4→e8, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/2pb1ppp/p2p3b/1p1P2q1/3N4/3B1Q1P/PPP2PP1/4RRK1 b - - 7 14

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