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

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rook c6; knight g1; pawns e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen b2; rook b3; bishop e6; pawns e5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen b2→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe6 — rook c6→e6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rb1 (rook b3→b1).
3. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen g5→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen d4→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e6→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pkp/2R1b1p1/4p1Q1/4P3/1r3P2/1q4PP/6NK b - - 1 29

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