Chess Puzzle #T45Ij — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks e5/f1; knight h2; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/e8; bishop f5; pawns a7/b6/c5/d3/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen f3→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Opponent replies Be4 (bishop f5→e4).
4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen a8→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe4 (rook e5→e4, captures queen).
5. Best move: fxg5 — pawn f4→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, hanging piece, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p4p2/1p4pp/2p1Rbq1/2P5/1P1p1Q1P/P4PPN/5RK1 b - - 1 26

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