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

Position

White: king h2; queen e7; rook f2; bishop c3; knight e6; pawns a2/b2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d8/h8; bishop e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen b6→f2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight e6→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
4. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen f2→f7, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen d8→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, hanging piece, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2kr/pp2Qp2/1q2N1p1/3pP2p/4b3/2B4P/PP3RPK/8 b - - 0 26

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