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

Position

White: king e1; queen c7; rooks a1/g1; bishop d2; knight c4; pawns a3/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen f3; rooks b8/h8; bishop e7; knight h6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e5/f4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king e8→f7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g1→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king f7→g7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen c7→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nf7 (knight h6→f7).
4. Best move: Nxd6 — knight c4→d6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/ppQ1b1pp/2pp3n/4p3/2N1Pp2/P1PP1q1P/1P1B1P2/R3K1R1 b Qk - 3 18

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