Chess Puzzle #SPA31 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b3/g5; knight h2; pawns a2/c3/f2/g4. Black: king f8; queen h3; rooks a8/h8; bishop g6; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b5/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be4+ — bishop g6→e4, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight f6→e4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qd5 — queen d1→d5. Opponent replies Nxf2+ (knight e4→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg1 — king h1→g1. Opponent replies Qg3+ (queen h3→g3, gives check).
5. Best move: Kf1 — king g1→f1.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/2p2ppp/p1n2nb1/1p4B1/6P1/1BP4q/P4P1N/R2QR2K b - - 0 19

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