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

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks c1/e4; bishop g2; pawns a2/c2/d5/f2/g4. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks h6/h8; knight e5; pawns b4/c5/d6/e7/f6/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg4 — knight e5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc6 — queen a6→c6. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen d7→c6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxg4+ — rook e4→g4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
4. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, intermezzo, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/3qp1k1/Q2p1p1r/2pPn3/1p2R1Pp/8/P1P2PB1/2R3K1 b - - 0 35

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