Chess Puzzle #M3PLR — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b6; rooks a1/f1; pawns d5/f3/g2/h5. Black: king f7; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; pawns c6/e6/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra7 — rook a1→a7. Opponent replies Rd7 (rook d8→d7).
3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook a7→d7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen e7→d7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Ra1 — rook f1→a1. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook h8→c8).
5. Best move: Ra7 — rook a1→a7.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, pin, quiet move, very long. The key move is Ra7.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/4qkp1/1Qp1p2p/3P1p1P/8/5P2/6P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 33

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