Chess Puzzle #IHJd2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks c1/e1; knights e5/f1; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knight d5; pawns a7/b6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nf7+ — knight e5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
5. Best move: Nxg5 — knight f7→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pbp2ppp/1p6/3nN1q1/2QP4/8/PP3PPP/2R1RNK1 b - - 5 18

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