Chess Puzzle #c3VEY — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; knight f4; pawns b2/b3/c2/d3/g2. Black: king g8; queen g4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/d5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra4 — rook a1→a4. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen g4→d1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Qxh1+ (queen d1→h1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxh1 — king h2→h1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Ra4.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp4p1/8/3pQ3/5Nq1/1P1P4/1PP3P1/R5KR b - - 0 27

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