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

Rating 2551 · Master · advantage, attraction, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/g2/g6. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d7/e6/f4/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4 — queen d1→g4. Opponent replies Nf5 (knight d4→f5).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Nh6 (knight f5→h6).
  5. Best move: Qxe5 — queen h5→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qg4.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp1p2p1/2n1p1P1/4q3/5p2/2N5/PP1B2P1/R2Q1K1R b - - 1 18

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