Chess Puzzle #9GbpV — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e8; rooks d1/h4; knight e5; pawns a4/c3/d4/f2/g2/g3. Black: king h7; queen a5; rooks b2/f6; bishop e4; pawns a6/c4/c5/e6/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen a5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd7 — knight e5→d7. Opponent replies Bd3+ (bishop e4→d3, gives check).
3. Best move: Kg1 — king f1→g1. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen c3→d4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rxd4 — rook h4→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Nd7.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/6pk/p3pr1p/q1p1Np2/P1pPb2R/2P3P1/1r3PP1/3R1K2 b - - 7 24

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