Chess Puzzle #o8xRA — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/c7; knight f3; pawns b3/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/e8; knight d7; pawns a7/d5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight d7→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook c7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c1→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
4. Best move: Qxh7 — queen d3→h7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen a2→b1, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxb1 — queen h7→b1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p1Rn2pp/4pp2/3p4/3P1P2/1P1Q1N2/q5PP/2R3K1 b - - 1 23

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