Chess Puzzle #D0Ijt — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen g6; rooks f4/h1; bishop g7; knight g5; pawns a4/b3/c4/d5/g4. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks e8/f8; knight e4; pawns a5/b6/d6/e3. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf4+ — rook f8→f4, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ke2 — king f3→e2. Opponent replies Rf2+ (rook f4→f2, gives check).
3. Best move: Ke1 — king e2→e1. Opponent replies Qxg7 (queen e5→g7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen g6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f2→f8).
5. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e8→e6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/6B1/1p1p2Q1/p2Pq1N1/P1P1nRP1/1P2pK2/8/7R b - - 2 39

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