Chess Puzzle #gAyyH — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e3; rooks e1/f1; bishop h3; knights d4/h5; pawns a2/b4/c3/f3/g4. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks b8/h8; bishops b6/b7; knight g8; pawns a6/b5/d7/e5/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf4 — queen e3→f4. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen e7→d8).
3. Best move: Qd6+ — queen f4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ne7 (knight g8→e7).
4. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen d8→e7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen d6→b8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3knr/1b1pqp2/pb6/1p2p2N/1P1N2P1/2P1QP1B/P5K1/4RR2 b - - 1 29

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