Chess Puzzle #2QI5Q — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rook b1; bishop d4; knight e5; pawns f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook a8; bishop d6; knight e4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook b1→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxb8 (bishop d6→b8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen e7→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen c8→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Nd7+ — knight e5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
6. Best move: Nxb8 — knight d7→b8, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/4qpp1/2Qbp2p/3pN3/3Bn3/7P/5PP1/1R4K1 b - - 2 30

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