Chess Puzzle #3nF1a — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen h6; rooks b1/g1; bishop e2; pawns a4/c4/d5/g6. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights d7/e4; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd2+ — knight e4→d2, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kg2 — king f1→g2. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight d7→f6).
3. Best move: Rh1 — rook g1→h1. Opponent replies Qh3+ (queen c3→h3, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxh3 — rook h1→h3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Kg2.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p1n1p2/p2p2PQ/2pPp3/P1P1n3/2q5/4B3/1R3KR1 b - - 0 20

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