Chess Puzzle #4Bzka — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen a6; rook b5; pawns b7/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen f1; rook b8; pawns a7/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd6 — queen a6→d6. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen f1→b5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen d6→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
4. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen c7→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
5. Best move: Qc7+ — queen b8→c7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/pP4kp/Q4pp1/1R6/8/7P/6PK/5q2 b - - 11 46

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