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

Position

White: king d1; queen h5; rook h1; bishops c1/c2; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/f2/h4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rook a8; bishops c8/g7; knight a1; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/e7/f5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight a1→c2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Rg1 — rook h1→g1. Opponent replies Qe1+ (queen a5→e1, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook g1→e1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/pp2p1b1/2p4p/q4p1Q/N2p3P/8/PPB2P2/n1BK3R b - - 5 21

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