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

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/e2; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/e8; bishop g4; knights c6/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen d8→d4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Be3 — bishop c1→e3. Opponent replies Qxa1 (queen d4→a1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxa1 — rook e1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, opening. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r1qr1k1/ppp2ppp/2n5/8/1PP1n1b1/P4N2/2Q1BPPP/R1B1R1K1 b - - 1 15

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