Chess Puzzle #5wALs — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen d3; rook c8; bishop c1; knight c5; pawns a2/d4/e5/f4/g5/h4. Black: king e8; queen b2; rook h8; bishop d8; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen b2→f2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook c8→d8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight c5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
5. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook d8→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king h7→h8, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qe8+ — queen b5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
7. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e8→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2Rbk2r/pp3p2/4p1p1/2NpPnPp/3P1P1P/3Q3K/Pq6/2B5 b k - 1 25

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