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

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/f5; bishop c4; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks d8/e8; bishop a5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d2→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd4 (rook d8→d4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight c6→d4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxa5 — rook f5→a5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/ppp2pp1/2nq1p1p/b4R2/2BP2P1/P1N5/1PPQ3P/2KR4 b - - 0 18

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