Chess Puzzle #VIxGZ — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c2; rooks a1/g6; bishop g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/f3/g4. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop g3; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne2 — knight c3→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf3+ — rook f8→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop g2→f3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh3+ — queen h4→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bg2 (bishop f3→g2).
4. Best move: Rf8+ — rook a8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen c2→f5).
5. Best move: Rxf5+ — rook f8→f5, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies gxf5 (pawn g4→f5, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen h3→f5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long, X-ray attack. The key move Rxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp6/6Rp/2nP4/2P3Pq/2N2Pb1/PPQ3B1/R4K2 w - - 3 24

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