Chess Puzzle #5crtw — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/b1; bishop g2; knight d2; pawns d4/e3/f2/g4. Black: king e8; queen b2; rooks a2/h8; bishop g7; knight d7; pawns b6/c6/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen b2→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa2 — rook a1→a2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen d2→e2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe2 — rook a2→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, X-ray attack. The key move Rxa2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/3n1pbp/1pp3p1/3p4/3P2P1/4P3/rq1NQPB1/RR4K1 b k - 1 22

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