Chess Puzzle #lGqll — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks e1/f1; knights a3/d4; pawns a4/b5/c3/d2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks c8/f8; bishop b7; knight h3; pawns a5/b6/c4/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8 — rook c8→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight d4→c6).
3. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop b7→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b5→c6, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Rf2 — rook f8→f2. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen e2→f2, captures rook).
5. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight h3→f2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1b4pp/1p2p3/pP1q4/P1pN4/N1P4n/3PQ1PP/4RR1K w - - 0 20

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