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

Position

White: king h2; queen a3; rooks a1/h1; knights d4/f3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks b8/h8; bishop a6; knight e2; pawns a7/d5/e6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight d4→c6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: hxg4+ — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
3. Best move: gxf3+ — pawn g4→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf3 (king g2→f3, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rxh1 — rook h8→h1, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxd8 (knight c6→d8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rh3+ — rook h1→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king f3→g4).
6. Best move: Rxa3 — rook h3→a3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, exposed king, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move hxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1qk2r/p5p1/b3p3/3pP2p/3N2P1/Q4N2/PP2nP1K/R6R w k - 0 25

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