Chess Puzzle #9RmLg — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d4; rook f7; knight d7; pawns c3/g2/h3. Black: king a8; queen c6; rook b8; knight c4; pawns a5/d5/g5/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook b8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne5 — knight d7→e5. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen c6→b6).
3. Best move: Nc6 — knight e5→c6. Opponent replies Qxd4+ (queen b6→d4, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c3→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook d8→f8).
5. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f7→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: kr6/3N1R2/2q5/p2p2p1/2nQ3p/2P4P/5KP1/8 b - - 1 38

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