Chess Puzzle #44nWX — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f4/g2. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop d7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/e5/f7/g4/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen f6→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h1→h2).
4. Best move: O-O-O — king e8→c8. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop c1→h6).
5. Best move: Qxa1 — queen f1→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, castling, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pppb1pp1/5q2/4p3/2BpPPp1/3P2Q1/PPP3P1/R1B2RK1 w kq - 1 15

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