Chess Puzzle #9FTD5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks f1/h3; bishop d3; knight c1; pawns c4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a1/f8; bishop g7; knight f5; pawns b7/c6/d6/e5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight f5→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen g4→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rg3+ — rook h3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen e6→g6).
4. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g3→g6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, exposed king, kingside attack, long, master, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p4b1/2ppq2p/4pn2/2P3Q1/3BP2R/6PP/r1N2RK1 b - - 4 29

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