Chess Puzzle #4983g — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knight d5; pawns a2/e4/f4/g5/h5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop h8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh2 — queen c2→h2. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop h8→g7).
3. Best move: hxg6 — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxc4+ (rook c8→c4, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Kb1 — king c1→b1. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h2→h7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rkb/pp1npp1p/3p2p1/3N2PP/2B1PP2/8/P1Q5/2KR3R b - - 2 20

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