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

Position

White: king h3; queen f3; rook a1; knight e6; pawns e5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rook a8; knight b4; pawns a7/b6/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen c2→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa7 — rook a1→a7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen e4→f3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a7→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Ng5+ — knight e6→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move Rxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p5pp/1p2N3/3pP3/1n6/5QPK/2q4P/R7 b - - 1 24

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