Chess Puzzle #68Cwd — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/g1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2. Black: king e8; queen e4; rooks a8/h1; bishop b4; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d4/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxc3 (bishop b4→c3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d2→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
4. Best move: Rxh1 — rook g1→h1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxb2+ (bishop c3→b2, captures pawn, gives check).
5. Best move: Kxb2 — king c1→b2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/1p3pp1/p1n5/8/1b1pq3/2P5/PP1QNP2/2KR2Rr b q - 0 21

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