Chess Puzzle #7SIQa — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook d7; bishop f1; pawns b6/d5/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen f2; rook b7; knight f4; pawns g6/h4. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook b7→d7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen f5→d7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
3. Best move: Qb5 — queen d7→b5. Opponent replies Nh5 (knight f4→h5).
4. Best move: b7 — pawn b6→b7. Opponent replies Ng3+ (knight h5→g3, gives check).
5. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Nxf1+ (knight g3→f1, captures bishop, gives check).
6. Best move: Qxf1 — queen b5→f1, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf1 (queen f2→f1, captures queen).
7. Best move: b8=Q — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, master, promotion, quiet move, very long. The key move Qxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1r1R3k/1P4p1/3P1Q2/4Pn1p/7P/5qP1/5B1K b - - 1 38

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