Chess Puzzle #A83nD — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/c1; knights a4/d3; pawns b3/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c2/c8; bishop g7; knight c3; pawns a7/b6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa4 — knight c3→a4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen c7→c2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies Qxc1+ (queen c2→c1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxc1 — knight d3→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p1q1ppbp/1p4p1/8/N2P4/1PnNQ1P1/2r2P1P/R1R3K1 b - - 3 23

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