Chess Puzzle #6Kz1Z — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a3; rooks a1/f2; knight f3; pawns b3/b4/c2/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c6; pawns a4/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb3 — pawn a4→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen a3→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxa8 (bishop c6→a8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a1→a8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
4. Best move: Rxh8 — rook a8→h8, captures rook. Opponent replies b2 (pawn b3→b2).
5. Best move: Nd2 — knight f3→d2.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/3q1pp1/1pb1p2p/3pP3/pP1P4/QP3N2/2P2RPP/R5K1 b kq - 0 27

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