Chess Puzzle #18ULC — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f6; rooks d1/f8; knight c3; pawns a2/c4/e3/e4. Black: king b4; queen g4; rooks a8/g5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/h3/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5+ — knight c3→d5, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ka5 — king b4→a5. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen f6→f1).
3. Best move: Qg2+ — queen g4→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg2 (queen f1→g2, captures queen).
4. Best move: hxg2+ — pawn h3→g2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
5. Best move: Rxf8 — rook a8→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, exposed king, middlegame, very long. The key move hxg2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4R2/ppp5/5Q1p/4p1r1/1kP1P1q1/2N1P2p/P7/3R3K w - - 0 28

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