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

Position

White: king b1; queen h3; rook h1; knight e8; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g2. Black: king g7; queen g5; rook a8; bishop c8; knight h6; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g7→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh2 — queen h3→h2. Opponent replies Bb7 (bishop c8→b7).
3. Best move: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen g5→h5).
4. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e8→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
5. Best move: Nxh5+ — knight f6→h5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1N3/p4pk1/1p2p1pn/2p1P1q1/8/7Q/PP3PP1/1K5R b - - 1 26

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