Chess Puzzle #5HDcM — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knights b1/d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e6/e7; knights b8/h7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop e6→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf5 — knight d4→f5. Opponent replies Bf6 (bishop e7→f6).
3. Best move: Rf3 — rook f1→f3. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c4→e6).
4. Best move: Rg3+ — rook f3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
5. Best move: Rh3 — rook g3→h3. Opponent replies Bxf5 (bishop e6→f5, captures knight).
6. Best move: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bh4 (bishop f6→h4).
7. Best move: Rxh4 — rook h3→h4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxh4 (queen d8→h4, captures rook).
8. Best move: Qxh4 — queen h6→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, opening, quiet move, very long. The key move is Nf5.

Position data

FEN: rn1q1rk1/ppp1bp1n/3pb2Q/8/2BNP3/3P4/PPP3PP/RN3RK1 b - - 4 11

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