Chess Puzzle #75Z1S — Expert, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen g4; rooks a1/h1; knights c3/g5; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/e3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g6; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/f6; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight d7→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h5+ — pawn h4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g6→h6).
3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h6→h7).
4. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
5. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r2/pp1n1pp1/2p2bk1/2Ppp1N1/3P2QP/2N1P3/PP3PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 3 13

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