Chess Puzzle #IdnS0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; rooks c2/d1; bishop e3; knight d5; pawns b2/b4/g5. Black: king e8; queen b3; rook h8; bishop f8; knight h5; pawns a6/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa4 — queen b3→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c2→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
3. Best move: Nb6+ — knight d5→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king d7→e6).
4. Best move: Nxa4 — knight b6→a4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Rc8+.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/5p2/p2p4/3Np1Pn/1P6/1q2B3/1PR5/1K1R4 b k - 0 27

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