Chess Puzzle #2M9AE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook b1; knight c5; pawns b5/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b8; rooks b6/e8; pawns f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd7 — knight c5→d7. Opponent replies Rxb5 (rook b6→b5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Nxb8 — knight d7→b8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb3 (rook b5→b3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxb3 — rook b1→b3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Nd7.

Position data

FEN: 1q2r2k/6pp/1r3p2/1PN5/3P4/1Q5P/5PP1/1R4K1 b - - 2 32

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