Chess Puzzle #mQCk1 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e1; rooks g1/g3; bishop d3; knights e4/h3; pawns a3/b2/c2/h4. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks a8/f7; bishops f5/g7; knight d5; pawns a6/b5/c7/d6/e5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf4 — knight h3→f4, captures knight. Opponent replies exf4 (pawn e5→f4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxg7 — rook g3→g7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook f7→g7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxg7 — rook g1→g7, captures rook. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qc3+ — queen e1→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
6. Best move: Qh8+ — queen c3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
7. Best move: Qxa8 — queen h8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, exposed king, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move Nxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r6k/2p2rb1/p2p3p/1p1npb1q/4N2P/P2B2RN/1PP5/1K2Q1R1 b - - 1 24

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