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

Position

White: king h2; queen a4; rooks c1/c2; knights b3/f3; pawns a2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks c7/c8; knights c6/e7; pawns a6/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c7→c2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c8→c2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qe8+ — queen a4→e8, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move dxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1qr1npp1/ppn1p2p/3pP3/Q2P4/1N3N1P/P1R2PPK/2R5 b - - 4 28

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