Chess Puzzle #XU4YB — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/f2/f3/h3. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks a8/g8; knights b8/f4; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e5/f5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen c2→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g8→g7).
3. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen c3→g7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxf5+ — knight e3→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
5. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f5→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn4rk/pp5p/3p4/2pPpp2/2P2n1q/4NP1P/PPQ2P1K/R4B1R b - - 5 20

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