Chess Puzzle #NJo1e — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d3; queen g5; rook g4; knight d2; pawns a3/c2/h6. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook e8; bishop g7; knight d6; pawns a4/b7/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa3+ — queen a1→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nb3 — knight d2→b3. Opponent replies Qb2 (queen a3→b2).
3. Best move: Nd4 — knight b3→d4. Opponent replies Nf5 (knight d6→f5).
4. Best move: Qxf5 — queen g5→f5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move. The key move is Nb3.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1p3pb1/3n3P/3p2Q1/p5R1/P2K4/2PN4/q7 b - - 0 33

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