Chess Puzzle #3xG9T — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rooks c1/d1; knight e2; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f4/g2. Black: king g7; queen e6; rooks c6/c7; knight e7; pawns a4/b5/d4/e5/f6/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook c6→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e2→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies exd4 (pawn e5→d4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c7→c2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc2 — queen f2→c2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/2r1n1k1/2r1qpp1/1p2p3/p2pPP2/P7/1PP1NQP1/2RR3K b - - 0 30

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