Chess Puzzle #x3shV — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g3; queen h4; bishop e6; knight d4; pawns c3/d5/e4/f6/g5. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook a8; knight f7; pawns b3/c4/d6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3+ — queen b2→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf3 — knight d4→f3. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h7→h5).
3. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop e6→f7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qh3 — queen h4→h3. Opponent replies h4+ (pawn h5→h4, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxh4 — queen h3→h4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, very long. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5n1p/3pBPp1/3P2P1/2pNP2Q/1pP3K1/1q6/8 b - - 1 43

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