Chess Puzzle #Nnk7W — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops d4/e2; knight c3; pawns a2/b5/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d8/h8; bishops f8/g4; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d8→d4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxe2 (bishop g4→e2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxe2 — knight c3→e2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen h5→e2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxa7 — queen d4→a7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/ppp2ppp/5n2/1P5q/3B2b1/2N5/P1P1BPPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 12

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