Chess Puzzle #4MGp8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook d1; knights c3/g5; pawns a4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rook f8; bishops b7/g7; pawns c5/e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc8 — bishop b7→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen d7→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf7 — queen d5→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd5+.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1b1Q2bp/6p1/2p2pN1/Pq2p3/2N5/5PPP/3R2K1 b - - 1 27

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