Chess Puzzle #HazzY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks e1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f8; rooks a8/f7; bishop g4; pawns a7/b7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8 — queen d5→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen f8→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook e8→d8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook f8→d8, captures rook).
5. Best move: fxg4 — pawn f3→g4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxd8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4q1k/pp3rpp/8/3QR3/6b1/2P2P2/PP4PP/4R1K1 b - - 0 23

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