Chess Puzzle #1YrD3 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks c2/g2; knight b5; pawns a3/b4/c6/d5/e4/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook a8; bishop e5; knights a6/h3; pawns b6/c7/d6/f7/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb4 — knight a6→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures knight. Opponent replies Ra1 (rook a8→a1).
3. Best move: Rc1 — rook c2→c1. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook a1→c1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc1 — queen d1→c1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move axb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p2p2/npPp2qp/1N1Pb1p1/1P2P3/P4P1n/2R3RP/3Q1K2 b - - 2 31

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