Chess Puzzle #0DpfM — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rook g1; bishops a1/g6; pawns b3/e4/f5/h4. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d2/f8; pawns a3/b4/c2/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: f6 — pawn f5→f6. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen g4→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen f6→d8).
4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen c8→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook d2→d8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Bh5 — bishop g6→h5.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, discovered attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/4q1p1/6Bp/4pP2/1p2P1QP/pP6/2pr4/B5RK b - - 3 43

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