Chess Puzzle #mlm8K — Master, White to move, opening

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/c4; knights b1/h5; pawns a2/b5/c3/d3/e4/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/g8; bishops b6/c8; knights b8/f6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh5 — knight f6→h5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king e8→f7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen e2→h5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
4. Best move: Qf5+ — queen h5→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e6→e7).
5. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f5→h7, gives check.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, attraction, crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnbqk1r1/1pp2p2/1b1p1n2/pP2p2N/2B1P3/2PP3P/P3QP1K/RNB2R2 b q - 0 15

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