Chess Puzzle #S5TF5 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook e1; bishop d2; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h5; queen h7; rook a8; bishop b7; knights c6/e4; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d7→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf3+ — queen d3→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h5→g6).
3. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen f3→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g6→f7).
5. Best move: Qxh7 — queen e4→h7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/pbpp2pq/1pn1p3/7k/3Pn3/2PQ4/P1PB1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 1 22

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