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

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; bishop e3; knights e2/g5; pawns a3/b2/d5/e4/f4. Black: king e7; queen b6; rook a6; bishop f6; knight d7; pawns a4/c2/c5/d6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen b6→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
4. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king c8→b7).
5. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen e8→d7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/3nkpp1/rq1p1b2/2pPp1NQ/p3PP2/P3B3/1Pp1N3/2K5 b - - 2 25

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