Chess Puzzle #DzRTC — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rooks b6/f7; knight c6; pawns f2/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; bishop d4; pawns a5/c5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen c3→d4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rbb7 — rook b6→b7. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen d4→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f7→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/5R1p/1RN3p1/p1pQ4/3b4/2q3PP/5P1K/8 b - - 0 37

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