Chess Puzzle #G12ZA — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b5; rook e1; knight f4; pawns d4/e3/e5. Black: king g8; queen g4; rook c8; knight h8; pawns d5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc2 — rook c8→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen b5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight f4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
4. Best move: Qf8+ — queen e8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
5. Best move: Nf4+ — knight e6→f4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3kn/7p/4p1p1/1Q1pP3/3P1Nq1/4P3/8/4R2K b - - 0 36

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