Chess Puzzle #xh85F — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; bishop h3; knights d2/h4; pawns c3/d4/e5/h5. Black: king g7; queen a2; rook c2; bishop c6; knights d1/d7; pawns a7/c4/d5/f5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook c2→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng6 — knight h4→g6. Opponent replies Rg2+ (rook d2→g2, gives check).
3. Best move: Bxg2 — bishop h3→g2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qf2+ (queen a2→f2, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies Qe1+ (queen f2→e1, gives check).
5. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures knight).
6. Best move: Qe7+ — queen d8→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
7. Best move: hxg6 — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qh4+ (queen e1→h4, gives check).
8. Best move: Qxh4 — queen e7→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Ng6.

Position data

FEN: 3Q4/p2n1pk1/2b4p/3pPp1P/2pP3N/2P4B/q1rN4/3n2K1 b - - 1 37

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