Chess Puzzle #Ecnfj — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a2/d1; knight f5; pawns a3/b2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rook g6; bishop f8; knight b3; pawns a4/b7/c6/e5/f7/h6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf1 — rook d1→f1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nd2 — knight b3→d2. Opponent replies Ng3 (knight f5→g3).
3. Best move: Qxf1+ — queen e2→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf1 (knight g3→f1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
5. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5bk1/1p3p1p/2p3rp/4pN2/p3P2Q/PnP5/RP2qPPP/3R2K1 w - - 7 27

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