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

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks a1/e1; bishop b6; knight b5; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f6; rooks e8/h8; bishop b7; pawns c7/d3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb6 — queen f6→b6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxb6 — queen a7→b6, captures queen. Opponent replies cxb6 (pawn c7→b6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nd6+ — knight b5→d6, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2k1r2r/Qbp2ppp/1B3q2/1N6/8/1P1p4/P4PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 24

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