Chess Puzzle #4sd2u — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen d4; rooks c1/e1; bishop b3; knight d1; pawns a2/b2/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a5/a8; bishop f5; pawns b4/b5/e3/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen d4→e3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxa2+ — rook a5→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxa2 (bishop b3→a2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxa2+ — rook a8→a2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa2 (king a1→a2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen d6→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qb3 (queen e3→b3).
5. Best move: Qa8+ — queen d5→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Qa3 (queen b3→a3).
6. Best move: bxa3 — pawn b4→a3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxa2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5ppp/3q4/rp1P1b2/1p1Q4/1B2p3/PP4PP/K1RNR3 w - - 0 26

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