Chess Puzzle #4DFiJ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen a3; rook b1; knights c6/f3; pawns a5/c3/d4/e5/f4/g5/h6. Black: king f7; queen c8; rook b7; knight b5; pawns a6/c4/d5/e6/f5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa3 — knight b5→a3, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb7 (queen c8→b7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nd8+ — knight c6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
4. Best move: Nxb7 — knight d8→b7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2q5/1r3k1p/p1N1p1pP/Pn1pPpP1/2pP1P2/Q1P2N2/6K1/1R6 b - - 0 41

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