Chess Puzzle #95xMm — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks g1/g6; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f4/h2/h6. Black: king h7; queen d6; rooks f8/g8; knight e7; pawns b5/b7/d5/e6/f5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg6 — rook g8→g6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg6 — rook g1→g6, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxg6 (knight e7→g6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
4. Best move: Qxg6 — queen h5→g6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen d6→e7).
5. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg7 (queen e7→g7, captures queen).
6. Best move: hxg7+ — pawn h6→g7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures pawn).
7. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
8. Best move: Nxf8 — knight e6→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, deflection, exposed king, fork, master, middlegame, very long. The key move hxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rr1/1p2n2k/3qp1RP/1p1p1p1Q/3P1P2/4PN2/PP5P/6RK b - - 0 25

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