Chess Puzzle #8Ppib — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks f1/h3; bishop c5; knight e6; pawns b4/c3/g2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a6/a8; bishops e4/e5; pawns c6/d5/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra1 — rook a6→a1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook a1→f1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Bg1 — bishop c5→g1. Opponent replies Rxg1+ (rook f1→g1, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxg1 — king h1→g1, captures rook. Opponent replies Ra1+ (rook a8→a1, gives check).
5. Best move: Kf2 — king g1→f2.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2q4p/r1p1N1p1/2Bpbp2/1P2b2Q/2P4R/6P1/5R1K b - - 2 30

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