Chess Puzzle #oxf7N — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen g5; rook g3; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/e4/f3. Black: king g8; queen d3; rook d8; knight b4; pawns a6/b5/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2+ — queen d3→c2, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kg1 — king f2→g1. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen c2→b1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Qb2+ (queen b1→b2, gives check).
4. Best move: Rg2 — rook g3→g2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move is Kg1.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5ppp/p7/1ppN2Q1/1n2P3/1P1q1PR1/P4K2/8 b - - 4 35

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