Chess Puzzle #9jeW8 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rook h1; knights d3/e5; pawns f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook f8; bishop a6; knight e4; pawns d5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen a1→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight e5→c6. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
3. Best move: Qh6 — queen h5→h6. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen d4→b6).
4. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
5. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/6pp/b3pp2/3pN2Q/4n3/3N2P1/5PPK/q6R b - - 3 27

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