Chess Puzzle #2sKMM — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks e7/f1; knights b3/c4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks f6/f8; bishop h6; knight e6; pawns c5/e4/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook e7→d7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf4 — knight e6→f4. Opponent replies Qg4 (queen e2→g4).
3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen h4→g4, captures queen. Opponent replies hxg4 (pawn h3→g4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
5. Best move: Ng3+ — knight e2→g3, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move is Nf4.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/4R2p/4nrpb/2p5/2N1p2q/1NP4P/PP2QPP1/5RK1 w - - 9 37

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