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

Position

White: king c1; queen f2; rooks d3/f1; knight a4; pawns a2/b3/e4/g5/h6. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a7/f8; bishop e5; pawns a6/b4/c3/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook a7→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nb6 — knight a4→b6. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook d7→d3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight b6→c8, captures queen. Opponent replies Bd4 (bishop e5→d4).
4. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c8→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
5. Best move: Qe2 — queen f2→e2.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move is Nb6.

Position data

FEN: 2q2rk1/r4p1p/p3p1pP/4b1P1/Np2P3/1PpR4/P4Q2/2K2R2 b - - 0 29

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