Chess Puzzle #mDGtN — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e6; rooks d2/h1; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/g2. Black: king g7; queen e3; rooks b8/d8; bishop d6; pawns a7/c6/e5/f5/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd1 — rook h1→d1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ba3 — bishop d6→a3. Opponent replies Ne4 (knight g3→e4).
3. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f5→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen e6→e5, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kf7 — king g7→f7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is Ba3.

Position data

FEN: 1r1r4/p5k1/2pbQ1p1/4pp2/8/2P1qPN1/PP1R2P1/2K4R w - - 3 29

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