Chess Puzzle #37uYM — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks a3/e7; knight f3; pawns a4/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/b5; knight b4; pawns c5/d6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight b4→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb5 — pawn a4→b5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxa3 (queen a5→a3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxa3 — queen b2→a3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move axb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/4Rp1p/3p2p1/qrpP4/Pn6/R4N2/1Q3PPP/6K1 b - - 0 18

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