Chess Puzzle #un34V — Master, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/f7; knights b1/h8; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen f6; rook a8; bishops c8/d6; knights d4/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh7 — queen h5→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight d4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight e4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf2 — queen f6→f2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qg8+ (queen h7→g8, gives check).
5. Best move: Ke7 — king f8→e7. Opponent replies Ng6+ (knight h8→g6, gives check).
6. Best move: Kf6 — king e7→f6. Opponent replies Qd8+ (queen g8→d8, gives check).
7. Best move: Kxf7 — king f6→f7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nh8+ (knight g6→h8, gives check).
8. Best move: Ke6 — king f7→e6. Opponent replies Qg8+ (queen d8→g8, gives check).
9. Best move: Ke7 — king e6→e7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1N/pppp1Bpp/3b1q2/4p2Q/3nn3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNB2RK1 w - - 5 10

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