Chess Puzzle #d4nNE — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks e3/f1; knights e4/e5; pawns a3/b2/d4/f4/g5. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks d8/e8; bishop e7; knight h5; pawns a6/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d8→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf6 (knight h5→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen f5→f6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/1p2bppp/p1p5/4NqPn/3PNP2/PQ2R3/1P6/5RK1 b - - 2 26

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