Optimal move

Hi,

What is the optimal move for white here and why?

I guess the two choices are Qxe5 and Rh4.

After Rh4 we have to calculate stuff like Rh4 Qxc2 Nxc2 Nxg3 fxg3 Rxc2 (threatening Rbxb2) and now Bc3 or Bf4

And now the other line. After Qxe5 Nxf2 Rdf1 Nxh1 Bc3 f6 Qe6+ white might have winning sacs like Bxf6 coming up

I think, at least in speed games, people would play Qxe5 without much thought. Not only is the basic idea two pieces for a rook, but white is starting out up a few pawns. The only drawback is black attacking ideas, but not only does Qxe5 remove an attacker, it brings the queen over to defend squares like b2. So that's why you might play it quickly without much thinking (mostly you just need to look whether black has any big threats).

So mostly, practical calculation goes something like:
Qxe5 Qxa3
Qxe5 Rxb2
Qxe5 Rxc2
Qxe5 Nxd2
Qxe5 Nc3
Qxe5 Rb3

And if none of those moves scare you then you'd just take the knight.

Thanks, I was missing “two knights for a rook” as a valid trade. Pretty basic but I just didn’t see it.