Chess Puzzle #6qL1K — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen c2; rooks a1/g1; bishop d3; knight e3; pawns a4/b2/d5/e4/f3/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks c8/f8; bishops g6/g7; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/c5/e5/f7/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook c8→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc4 — knight e3→c4. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen d6→e7).
3. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen e7→d8).
4. Best move: dxc7 — pawn d6→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc4.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1p1n1pbp/p2q2b1/2pPp1Pp/P3P2P/3BNP2/1PQ2K2/R5R1 b - - 0 23

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