Chess Puzzle #VxXl5 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks c1/h1; knights d3/f3; pawns a3/b4/f2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook f8; bishop b7; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e1→g1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd5 — queen d6→d5. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen c2→d1).
3. Best move: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Opponent replies Nde1 (knight d3→e1).
4. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight d4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxf3 — queen d5→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight e1→f3, captures queen).
6. Best move: Bxf3 — bishop b7→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pb3ppp/2nqpn2/1p6/1P3P2/P2N1NP1/2Q2P1P/2R1K2R w K - 1 18

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