Chess Puzzle #4S1ht — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; rook f3; bishop c4; pawns b3/d6/e6/h2. Black: king e8; queen a2; knights f5/g7; pawns a7/b7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa3 — queen a2→a3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop c4→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: e7+ — pawn e6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f8→f7).
4. Best move: e8=Q+ — pawn e7→e8, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe8 (knight g7→e8, captures queen).
5. Best move: d7 — pawn d6→d7. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight e8→f6).
6. Best move: d8=Q — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, exposed king, pin, promotion, very long. The key move is Bb5+.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/pp4np/3PP3/5n2/2B5/1P3R1K/q6P/8 b - - 0 41

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