Chess Puzzle #XOeY2 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook a1; bishops c1/d3; knights e4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/h6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4 — queen g4→h4. Opponent replies Bxg5 (bishop h6→g5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxg5 — bishop c1→g5, captures bishop. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f7→f5).
4. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop d3→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen d4→c4, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f8→f6, captures knight).
6. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen h4→c4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp2p1p/2n1p1pb/6N1/3qN1Q1/3B4/PPP2PPP/R1B3K1 b - - 2 12

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