Chess Puzzle #hw5ml — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rook b7; bishop f2; knight c5; pawns d4/e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c6; rook c8; bishop c3; knight f5; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rb6 — rook b7→b6. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen c6→b6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nd7+ — knight c5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxb6 — knight d7→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Rb6.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/1R3p2/p1q1p1p1/2NpPn2/3P1P1p/2bQ3P/5BPK/8 b - - 2 31

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