Chess Puzzle #0DNEp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/g1; bishop e2; knights c3/h7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f4. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop f5; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/d6/e4/g6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g7→h7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook g1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
3. Best move: Qd4+ — queen d1→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen d8→f6).
4. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxf6 — queen d4→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move is Rh1+.

Position data

FEN: r2qr3/pp4kN/3p2p1/2nP1b2/4pP2/2N5/PPP1B3/R2QK1R1 b Q - 0 20

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