Chess Puzzle #NR1xU — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; knights c3/e2; pawns e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks b4/h8; bishop c4; knight f6; pawns c6/d5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen d8→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a1→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Rxh8 — rook a8→h8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rb2 (rook b4→b2).
4. Best move: Qa4 — queen c2→a4. Opponent replies Bxe2 (bishop c4→e2, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qa3+ — queen a4→a3, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move is Ra8+.

Position data

FEN: 3qk2r/5ppp/2p2n2/3pp3/1rb5/2N1PP2/2Q1N1PP/R3K2R b KQk - 1 16

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