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

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks d1/e1; bishops g6/h6; pawns a2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; bishops e6/f6; knight a5; pawns b7/c6/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen d4→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen c3→c2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxc2 — bishop g6→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1p3p2/2p1bbBB/n7/3q4/6P1/P1Q2P1P/3RR1K1 b - - 1 21

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