Chess Puzzle #stekm — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen c4; rooks a1/h5; knights d2/f3; pawns a4/b4/c3/d3/e4/g3. Black: king c8; queen g4; rooks f8/h8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh4 — rook h5→h4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxh4 — knight g6→h4, captures rook. Opponent replies gxh4 (pawn g3→h4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxf3+ — rook f8→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d2→f3, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rf8 — rook h8→f8. Opponent replies Qe6+ (queen c4→e6, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxe6 — queen g4→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r1r/ppp5/3p2np/4p2R/PPQ1P1q1/2PP1NP1/3N1K2/R7 w - - 1 23

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