Chess Puzzle #3TBDH — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks d1/h3; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; knight e6; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen c5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
3. Best move: Qb1 — queen f5→b1. Opponent replies Nxf4 (knight e6→f4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rxc3 — rook h3→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Ng5.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p3pp1/p1p1n2p/2qpPQ2/5P2/2P2N1R/P5PP/3R3K b - - 3 23

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