Chess Puzzle #41mA3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks f1/f7; knight g3; pawns a2/b2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; knight e7; pawns a6/b6/c3/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb2 — pawn c3→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook f7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nh5+ — knight g3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
4. Best move: Nf6 — knight h5→f6. Opponent replies Qd4+ (queen d8→d4, gives check).
5. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies Qe4 (queen d4→e4).
6. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/4nRpp/pp2p3/4P3/8/2p3NQ/PP4PP/5RK1 b - - 0 23

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