Chess Puzzle #Bf7Pf — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook g1; bishops b1/c3; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c5/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks e7/e8; bishop a6; knight f4; pawns a7/b6/d5/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc5 — pawn b6→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxf6+ — bishop c3→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
4. Best move: Bxg5 — bishop f6→g5, captures pawn. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
5. Best move: Bxe7+ — bishop g5→e7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Bxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/p2qr2p/bp3p2/2Pp1Np1/5nP1/2B2Q2/PP5P/1B4RK b - - 0 36

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