Chess Puzzle #XKG1s — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen h7; rooks e1/e7; knight f3; pawns a4/b4/f2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d6; rooks f8/g8; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen d6→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc7+ — rook e7→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Ree7 — rook e1→e7. Opponent replies Qc4+ (queen b4→c4, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg1 — king f1→g1. Opponent replies Nxh3+ (knight f4→h3, captures pawn, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxh3 — queen h7→h3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Rc7+.

Position data

FEN: 2k2rr1/pp2R2Q/2pq4/3p2p1/PP3n2/5N1P/5P2/4RK2 b - - 3 32

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