Chess Puzzle #8MSWt — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen c5; rooks d1/e1; pawns a3/b2/c2/f3/g5/h4. Black: king d7; queen g6; rooks a8/f8; knights c4/e3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/h5. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight e3→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen c5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen e7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
4. Best move: Re7+ — rook e1→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king c7→d6).
5. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, interference, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/pp1k4/2p3q1/2Qp2Pp/2n4P/P3nP2/1PP5/1K1RR3 b - - 1 28

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