Chess Puzzle #ctxlV — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e4; rooks d5/e1; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen b7; rooks b8/d8; bishop d6; pawns a6/b6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook d8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf3+ — queen e4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook b8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxd6 — rook d5→d6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf3+ (queen b7→f3, captures queen, gives check).
5. Best move: Kxf3 — king g2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r1r4/1q3kpp/pp1b4/3R4/2P1Q3/6P1/PP3PKP/4R3 b - - 2 27

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