Chess Puzzle #oo9FT — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rook f1; bishop g6; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a8; bishops b7/e5; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen c7→h7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxh7 — queen c2→h7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pbq3p1/1p4Bp/2ppbN2/8/2P1P1P1/PPQ4P/5R1K b - - 0 23

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