Chess Puzzle #x7IVK — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e4; rooks e6/h1; bishop c4; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g4. Black: king g7; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/f4; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight d7→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re7 — rook e6→e7. Opponent replies Nxc4 (knight b6→c4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook e7→f7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qe8 — queen e4→e8.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/1p1n1qk1/p3R1p1/8/2BPQbP1/1N6/PP3P2/5K1R b - - 7 24

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