Chess Puzzle #1buRJ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h7; knight d5; pawns a2/a3/f3. Black: king f8; queen d6; rook d8; pawns a7/c4/c5/f5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c3 — pawn c4→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne3 — knight d5→e3. Opponent replies Qd2+ (queen d6→d2, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d1→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move is Ne3.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/p6R/3q4/2pN1p2/2p5/P4P2/P7/2KR4 b - - 0 34

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