Chess Puzzle #5IjMq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rook f1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/c7; pawns a4/b4/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f2→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen e7→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
5. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2r1q1pp/4p3/3pP3/pp1N4/7P/PP3QPK/5R2 b - - 3 33

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