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

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; knight d7; pawns b2/b3/d4/e6/g2. Black: king h7; queen f2; rook g8; pawns a6/f4/f7/h2. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook g8→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf8+ — knight d7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
3. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
5. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king f6→g5).
6. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen f7→g6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/3N1p1k/p3P3/5Q2/3P1p2/1P6/1P3qPp/7K b - - 0 35

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