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

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks b1/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks b8/f8; bishop b7; knight d7; pawns a7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop b7→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b4 — pawn b2→b4. Opponent replies Rxb4 (rook b8→b4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxb4 — rook b1→b4, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen a5→b4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is b4.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/pb1n1ppp/8/q3p3/8/2NP2Q1/PPP2PPP/1R3RK1 b - - 6 17

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