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

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks c1/e5; bishop c4; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa3 — queen e7→a3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qc1+ (queen a3→c1, gives check).
5. Best move: Rxc1 — rook c7→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1pp1qppp/p7/4R3/2BQ4/8/P4PPP/2R3K1 b - - 0 18

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