Chess Puzzle #LNGLy — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen d1; rook a1; bishops b3/c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g4. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/e6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/h4/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (9 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf2 — queen f6→f2. Opponent replies Bf4 (bishop c1→f4).
3. Best move: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Opponent replies Qg1 (queen d1→g1).
4. Best move: Qf3+ — queen f2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh4 (king h3→h4, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Opponent replies Qg3 (queen g1→g3).
6. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h4→h3).
7. Best move: Nxf4+ — knight g6→f4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf4 (knight d5→f4, captures knight).
8. Best move: Re3 — rook e6→e3. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen g3→f3, captures queen).
9. Best move: Rxf3+ — rook e3→f3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h3→g2).
10. Best move: Rxf4 — rook f3→f4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move Nxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/ppp2p1p/2n1rq2/3p4/6Pp/1BNP3K/PPP5/R1BQ4 w - - 0 25

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