Chess Puzzle #4lKtH — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; knights e5/e7; pawns b2/c3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen e1; rook a4; knight e4; pawns b7/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight e7→f5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra1 — rook a4→a1. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen d3→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e1→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nd7+ (knight e5→d7, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg8 — king f8→g8.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Ra1.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/1p2Npp1/8/4N3/r2Pn3/2PQ3P/1P4PK/4q3 w - - 2 32

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