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

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rook d2; bishops d3/g3; knight d6; pawns a3/b5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c8/d7; bishop d1; knight d4; pawns a5/b6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d7→d6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: e5 — pawn e4→e5. Opponent replies Ne2+ (knight d4→e2, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxe2 — rook d2→e2, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook d6→d3, captures bishop).
4. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is e5.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3r1ppp/1p1N1q2/pP6/3nP3/P2B2B1/1Q1R1PPP/3b2K1 b - - 0 26

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