Chess Puzzle #6Iz4R — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h2; rook h1; bishop a8; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/g4/g5. Black: king g8; queen d4; rook e8; bishop e6; knight d7; pawns a7/e7/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa8 — rook e8→a8, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen d4→h8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
5. Best move: Rxa8 — rook h8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, skewer, very long. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: B3r1k1/p2npp2/4b1p1/6P1/3q2P1/5P2/PPP4Q/2K4R b - - 0 22

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