Chess Puzzle #mCX9q — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks b7/f1; bishops b5/e3; knight c2; pawns d4/e5/f2/f3/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/f5; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bh4 — bishop e7→h4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra1 — rook f1→a1. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxa2 — rook a1→a2, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd3 (knight e5→d3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxd3 — bishop b5→d3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Ra1.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pR2bppp/2n1p3/1B1pPn2/3P4/3QBP1P/q1N2P2/5RK1 b - - 2 17

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