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

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks c1/e5; knight h6; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; bishop d3; knight f6; pawns a7/c2/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg6 — bishop d3→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf5 — knight h6→f5. Opponent replies Bxf5 (bishop g6→f5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Rxf5 — rook e5→f5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ne4 (knight f6→e4).
5. Best move: Rg5+ — rook f5→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg5 (knight e4→g5, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxd6 — queen h6→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, deflection, intermezzo, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Nf5.

Position data

FEN: r3rk2/p4p2/3q1n1N/3pR1Q1/3P4/1P1b4/P1p2PPP/2R3K1 b - - 1 25

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