Chess Puzzle #v8cMH — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks g1/g6; knight g4; pawns a4/e4/f5/h5. Black: king h7; queen d7; rooks c2/f8; bishop g7; pawns a5/b3/b4/d3/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d2 — pawn d3→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen f4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g7→h6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
4. Best move: Nf6+ — knight g4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
5. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, double check, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/3q2bk/6Rp/p4P1P/Pp2PQN1/1p1p4/2r5/1K4R1 b - - 1 33

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