Chess Puzzle #UZ43Z — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d1/e1; bishops b1/g5; knight h6; pawns b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen a1; rooks a8/d8; bishops a5/d7; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxh6+ — bishop g5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f3→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxc3 (bishop a5→c3, captures pawn).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qa3+ (queen a1→a3, gives check).
5. Best move: Kd2 — king c1→d2.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r1k2/pp1b1pp1/2n1pn1N/b5B1/8/2P2Q2/1P4PP/qBKRR3 b - - 0 23

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