Find the decisive blow (difficulty 1670)

87654321 abcdefgh

White to move

Show solution
87654321 abcdefgh
  1. e2–e3 key move
  2. c8–g4
  3. d1–g4
  4. h4–g4
  5. f7–h5
  6. g4–g5
  7. e3–f4
  8. g5–f6

What makes it

The pawn strikes, a 6-point sacrifice, and the attack wins. The key move is neither check nor capture — a quiet shot the position cannot answer. The forced line runs 8 plies.