Chess Puzzle #1lr0m — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks d1/f1; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e5; rooks d7/d8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/c6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen e5→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
4. Best move: Qg3+ — queen h3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Rd6 (rook d7→d6).
5. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f8→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king c7→c8).
6. Best move: Qxd6 — queen g3→d6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen e4→e3, gives check).
7. Best move: Rf2 — rook f7→f2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, deflection, exposed king, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/pb1r3p/1pp3p1/4q3/4N3/P6Q/1PP3PP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 24

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