Chess Puzzle #8CON9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; rook f3; knight f5; pawns f2/g2/h3. Black: king a8; queen a2; rooks f8/h8; pawns b7/c6/h4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen a2→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra3+ — rook f3→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a8→b8).
3. Best move: Qf4+ — queen g5→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
4. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is Ra3+.

Position data

FEN: k4r1r/1p6/2p5/5NQ1/7p/5R1P/q4PPK/8 b - - 3 30

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