Chess Puzzle #041sJ — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks a1/f1; bishop g4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knight e5; pawns a7/b6/d4/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen c5→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight e4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
3. Best move: Rf2 — rook f1→f2. Opponent replies Rxh2 (rook h8→h2, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rxh2 — rook f2→h2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rh8 (rook a8→h8).
5. Best move: Rxc2 — rook h2→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move is Nd6+.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pb3p2/1p2p3/2q1n3/3pNQB1/6P1/PP5P/R4RK1 b kq - 3 26

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