Chess Puzzle #D8S9H — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c5/e2; pawns a6/b6/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks a8/b8; bishops d7/g7; knights e4/f6; pawns e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb7 — pawn a6→b7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxa1 (rook a8→a1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxa1 — rook f1→a1, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxb3 (knight c5→b3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Ra8 — rook a1→a8.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move axb7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rr4k1/1q1b2bp/PP3np1/2BPp3/4n3/1Q6/4B1PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 26

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