Chess Puzzle #qd8LI — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h6; rooks e1/f1; bishop c2; knight d4; pawns a2/c3/e3/f6/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks b8/d7; bishop b7; knight e8; pawns a6/c4/d5/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxc2+ (queen b2→c2, captures bishop, gives check).
3. Best move: Kg1 — king h2→g1. Opponent replies Qe4 (queen c2→e4).
4. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rf4 — rook f1→f4.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move exd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r2n1k1/1b1r1p1p/p4PpQ/3pp1P1/2pN4/2P1P2P/PqB4K/4RR2 b - - 2 27

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