Chess Puzzle #1EWh9 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rook c7; bishop g2; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h6; queen e8; rook d8; bishop f5; knight d3; pawns a7/b7/e4/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf4 — knight d3→f4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen c3→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
3. Best move: h4+ — pawn h2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king g5→g4).
4. Best move: Qh6 — queen g7→h6. Opponent replies Rd1+ (rook d8→d1, gives check).
5. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Nxg2 (knight f4→g2, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Kxg2 — king h2→g2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qg7+.

Position data

FEN: 3rq3/ppR4p/6pk/5b2/4pN2/2Qn2P1/PP3PBP/6K1 b - - 4 27

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