Chess Puzzle #03eOY — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks c8/d8; bishop d3; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen d5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd3 — knight e5→d3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxd3+ (knight c5→d3, captures knight, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d1→d3, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c8→c3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d3→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
5. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/pp2pp1p/6p1/2nqN3/8/2QbP3/PP3PPP/3RKB1R b K - 4 16

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