Chess Puzzle #1XwS1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen a3; rooks d1/e7; knights d5/f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/b7/c4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen b6→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd2 — rook d1→d2. Opponent replies Qf1+ (queen f2→f1, gives check).
3. Best move: Re1 — rook e7→e1. Opponent replies Qxe1+ (queen f1→e1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxe1 — knight f3→e1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move is Rd2.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp2Rpbp/1q4p1/3N4/2p5/Q4N2/PP3PPP/2KR4 b - - 1 16

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