Chess Puzzle #nId80 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks d1/f1; knight f4; pawns a4/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks c8/e5; bishop b7; pawns a6/b6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook c8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg6 — knight f4→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen e8→d8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen g3→e5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1q1k1/1b3p1p/pp4p1/4r3/P4N2/2P3Q1/1P4PP/3R1RK1 b - - 3 24

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