Chess Puzzle #btoX6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rook e7; bishops b2/c2; pawns a3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen d5; rooks b8/d8; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen d5→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd2 — queen c3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Re8+.

Position data

FEN: 1r1r3k/p3R1p1/1p3p1p/2nq4/7P/P1Q3P1/1BB2P2/6K1 b - - 7 32

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