Chess Puzzle #7LauB — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rook h1; bishop h5; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c4/f5/g5. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks b6/f8; knight c6; pawns a6/c5/c7/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxh5 — pawn g6→h5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook h1→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
3. Best move: f6+ — pawn f5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
4. Best move: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Opponent replies Qe1+ (queen e5→e1, gives check).
5. Best move: Nd1 — knight c3→d1. Opponent replies Rxb2+ (rook b6→b2, captures pawn, gives check).
6. Best move: Kxb2 — king b1→b2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rb8+ (rook f8→b8, gives check).
7. Best move: Kc1 — king b2→c1.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, exposed king, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move Rxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2p2p2/prnp2p1/2p1qPPB/2P1N3/8/PPQ5/1K5R b - - 0 32

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