Chess Puzzle #7XME5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e2; knight g3; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g7; queen e5; rooks a8/d8; knights c5/f6; pawns a5/b4/d6/e7/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg3+ — queen e5→g3, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kxg3 — king f2→g3, captures queen. Opponent replies Ncxe4+ (knight c5→e4, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f3→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxe4+ (knight f6→e4, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kf4 — king g3→f4. Opponent replies Nxd2 (knight e4→d2, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rfd1 — rook f1→d1.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, very long. The key move Kxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2r4/4ppk1/3p1np1/p1n1q2p/1pP1P2P/1P3PN1/P2QBKP1/R4R2 b - - 2 23

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