Chess Puzzle #7SzD2 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h2; rooks d1/h1; bishop b2; knight g6; pawns a2/c2/d4/e3/e6. Black: king d7; queen a4; rooks a8/b8; bishop f6; knight e4; pawns a5/b4/c7/d5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxe6 — king d7→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc7 — queen h2→c7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook b8→c8).
3. Best move: Nf4+ — knight g6→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king e6→f5).
4. Best move: Rh5+ — rook h1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Ng5 (knight e4→g5).
5. Best move: Rxg5+ — rook h5→g5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg5 (king f5→g5, captures rook).
6. Best move: Ne6+ — knight f4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g5→f5).
7. Best move: Nxg7+ — knight e6→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f5→g6).
8. Best move: Rg1+ — rook d1→g1, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rr6/2pk2p1/4PbN1/p2p4/qp1Pn3/4P3/PBP4Q/2KR3R b - - 0 27

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