Chess Puzzle #Grq8R — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks a1/f4; bishop b3; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen e4; rooks a8/f8; bishop e2; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d3/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen e4→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook f4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh4 (knight g6→h4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen g5→h4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
4. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen e5→e7, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxe7 — queen h4→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/ppp2ppk/6n1/4PNQ1/4qR2/1B1p4/PP2b1PP/R5K1 b - - 3 20

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