Chess Puzzle #dioC9 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b3; queen d2; rook f3; knight c4; pawns b2/b4/d3/d6/g2/g5. Black: king g7; queen b1; rooks b8/h1; pawns a7/d4/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook h1→c1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Na3 — knight c4→a3. Opponent replies Rc3+ (rook c1→c3, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen d2→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc3 (pawn d4→c3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxb1 — knight a3→b1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, master. The key move is Na3.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/p4pk1/3P2p1/6P1/1PNp4/1K1P1R2/1P1Q2P1/1q5r b - - 2 39

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