Chess Puzzle #XGS0p — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rook c1; bishop g3; knight d3; pawns a2/b3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king a8; queen e3; rook f8; bishops c8/e7; knight d5; pawns a6/b7/d7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb4 — knight d5→b4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c2→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ka7 (king a8→a7).
4. Best move: Bf2 — bishop g3→f2. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen e3→f2, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Nxf2 — knight d3→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, very long. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: k1b2r2/1p1pbp1p/p5p1/3nP3/8/1P1Nq1B1/P1Q3PP/2R4K b - - 5 25

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