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

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/e1; bishop f3; knight e4; pawns c5/f2/g2/g4. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks d8/e8; bishops f5/g7; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d8→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd2 — queen c2→d2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen a5→d2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight e4→d2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook c1→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp3pbp/6p1/q1P2b2/4N1P1/5B2/2Q2PP1/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 21

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