Chess Puzzle #C55pD — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e8; rook a1; knight e5; pawns c3/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h7; queen b3; rook f6; knight d5; pawns b5/c4/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b3→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra8 — rook a1→a8. Opponent replies Qc1+ (queen c3→c1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Qf4+ (queen c1→f4, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh3 — king h2→h3.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Ra8.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/6pk/4pr1p/1p1nN3/2pP4/1qP5/5PP1/R5K1 b - - 3 27

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