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

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rook h1; knight d4; pawns a3/d5/e4/f2/h7. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook a8; knight d3; pawns c4/d6/f6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa3 — rook a8→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight d4→c6. Opponent replies Ne1+ (knight d3→e1, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxe1 — rook h1→e1, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxf3 (rook a3→f3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxd8 — knight c6→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is Nc6.

Position data

FEN: r2q3k/5p1P/3p1pp1/3P4/2pNP3/P2n1Q2/5PK1/7R b - - 3 34

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