Chess Puzzle #5Eo7l — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e3; rooks h1/h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2. Black: king f8; queen g2; rooks d8/e8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen e3→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Rd6 (rook d8→d6).
3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen c5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king e7→f6).
5. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen c7→d6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rrk2/ppp2pp1/2n5/3P3R/4p3/4Q3/PPP2Pq1/1K5R b - - 0 20

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