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

Position

White: king g3; queen g7; rooks c1/d2; knight h5; pawns a4/b3/c3/e5/f4/h2/h4. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks c7/f8; bishop e4; pawns a6/b4/d7/e6/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d2→d7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook c7→d7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen g7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king e7→f8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Nxd7+ — knight f6→d7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
6. Best move: Nxb6 — knight d7→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4kr2/2rp1pQ1/pq2p2p/4P2N/Pp2bP1P/1PP3K1/3R3P/2R5 b - - 0 29

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