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

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks d6/e1; bishop a1; pawns a4/b5/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knight c5; pawns b4/b6/e5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen f5→e5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen b2→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook e8→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d6→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
5. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop a1→e5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, intermezzo, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1b6/1p1R3p/1Pn1pqpP/Pp6/8/1Q3PP1/B3R1K1 b - - 1 33

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