Chess Puzzle #28EiB — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks f1/h3; knight d7; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks e1/f8; knight f6; pawns a3/c6/d5/f7/g5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf1+ — rook e1→f1, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kxf1 — king g1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Re8 (rook f8→e8).
3. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d7→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
5. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
6. Best move: Re3+ — rook h3→e3, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, master, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3N1pp1/2p2n2/3p1Qp1/1q1P4/pP5R/P4P1P/4rRK1 b - - 3 24

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