Chess Puzzle #kY0za — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; rook e3; knight d6; pawns a2/b2/d5/f4/h2. Black: king g7; rook c2; bishop f5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook c2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf5+ — knight d6→f5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies gxf5 (pawn g6→f5, captures knight).
3. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies Rb6 (rook b2→b6).
4. Best move: Rd3 — rook e3→d3.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move Nxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp3pkp/3N2p1/3P1b2/5P2/4R3/PPr4P/3K4 b - - 4 31

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