Chess Puzzle #F9hU9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h6; rooks a1/f1; bishop g5; knight h4; pawns a3/b4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/c6; knight e4; pawns a6/b5/d3/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight e4→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen h6→g5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Nf5 — knight h4→f5. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen e6→g6).
4. Best move: Qh4+ — queen g5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
5. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
6. Best move: Nxg6 — knight e7→g6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, fork, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move Qxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5p2/pbb1q2Q/1p2p1B1/1P2nP1N/P2p3P/6PK/R4R2 b - - 2 29

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