Chess Puzzle #2ajYe — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks c1/e1; bishop e3; knight a2; pawns b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks b4/h8; bishop d6; knight e7; pawns d4/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe3 — pawn d4→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxb4 — knight a2→b4, captures rook. Opponent replies exf2+ (pawn e3→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxf2 — king g1→f2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxh2+ (rook h8→h2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg1 — king f2→g1.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Nxb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/3qnpp1/Q2bp3/8/1r1p4/4B1P1/NP3P1P/2R1R1K1 b k - 1 26

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