Chess Puzzle #CF48n — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/e1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/e8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd6 — knight e4→d6. Opponent replies Qxe1+ (queen e5→e1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxe1 — rook a1→e1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxe1 — queen d2→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Nd6.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3ppp/2p3n1/4q3/4N3/7P/PP1Q1PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 5 21

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