Chess Puzzle #nCEV3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rooks d1/f1; bishop e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/g5; bishops c5/c8; pawns a7/c6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop c8→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Opponent replies Rh5 (rook g5→h5).
3. Best move: Bf3 — bishop e4→f3. Opponent replies Qb8 (queen b6→b8).
4. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen f4→b8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook a8→b8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Bxh5 — bishop f3→h5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/p4p2/1qp2P1p/2b3r1/4BQ2/8/PPP2PPP/3R1R1K b - - 4 20

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