Chess Puzzle #53Kiu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; knight g3; pawns a4/b5/f5/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/d4; knight d3; pawns c5/e3/e4/f7/g4/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d3→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen e2→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen g4→f4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e5→f4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf4 — rook f1→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5p1p/8/1Pp1qP2/P2rp1p1/3np1N1/4Q2P/R4RK1 b - - 4 27

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