Chess Puzzle #A3734 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks c5/f1; knights e4/f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/d5; bishops b7/e7; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop e7→c5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxc5 — pawn d4→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rf5 (rook d5→f5).
3. Best move: Nh4 — knight f3→h4. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen d8→f8).
4. Best move: Nxf5 — knight h4→f5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxh6 (queen f8→h6, captures queen).
5. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f5→h6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/1b2bp2/p1n1p2Q/1pRr4/3PN3/P4N1P/1P3PP1/5RK1 b - - 4 21

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