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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks e1/f1; bishop d2; pawns a2/b4/f5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks e2/e8; knight g4; pawns c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh2 — knight g4→h2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e1→e2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen e5→e2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Re1 — rook f1→e1. Opponent replies Nf3+ (knight h2→f3, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen d3→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2p2ppp/3p4/4qP2/1P4n1/3Q2P1/P2Br2P/4RRK1 b - - 2 26

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