Chess Puzzle #A23TD — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen f5; rooks d2/h1; bishop g3; knight f3; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c3; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight d3; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc1+ — knight d3→c1, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1 — rook h1→c1, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd2+ (rook d8→d2, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen c3→c1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen f5→e5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rkb1r/pp3p2/7p/4pQp1/8/2qn1NB1/3RKPPP/7R b k - 1 20

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