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

Position

White: king c1; queen b3; rooks d1/e1; bishop e3; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen e4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop c8→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd4 — rook d1→d4. Opponent replies Qc2+ (queen e4→c2, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxc2 — queen b3→c2, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxc2 (knight b4→c2, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rf4 — rook d4→f4.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Rd4.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1r/ppp3p1/3p3p/8/1n2q3/1Q2BN2/PP3PPP/2KRR3 b - - 3 16

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