Chess Puzzle #4TLAy — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks b7/f1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/d3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks a8/f8; bishop d6; knight f5; pawns a7/c6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf4 — pawn e5→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook f1→c1. Opponent replies Nd4 (knight f5→d4).
3. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe2 (knight d4→e2, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxe2 — knight c3→e2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pR3pp1/2pb3p/4pn2/5P2/2NP4/P1qBQ1PP/5R1K b - - 0 20

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