Chess Puzzle #5Vopy — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks e1/g3; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/c8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen e5→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g3→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d2→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
4. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g5→f6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp3ppp/2p2n2/2b1q3/2P5/2NB2R1/PP1Q1PPP/4R1K1 b - - 1 16

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