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

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d2; knights d4/e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; knights c4/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd2 — knight c4→d2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b4 — pawn b2→b4. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen a5→b4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen b4→e7).
4. Best move: Qxd2 — queen c1→d2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp3ppp/4pn2/q2p4/2nN4/5P2/PPPBN1PP/R1Q2RK1 b kq - 0 15

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