Chess Puzzle #96tj9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen a6; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; pawns a3/c2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishop a8; knight d7; pawns a5/a7/d6/e4/e7/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc6 — bishop a8→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxa7+ — bishop e3→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxa7 (queen c7→a7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen a6→c6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nc5 (knight d7→c5).
4. Best move: Rb1+ — rook d1→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Nb7 (knight c5→b7).
5. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb7 (queen a7→b7, captures rook).
6. Best move: Rb1 — rook h1→b1.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, fork, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Bxa7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: bk1r3r/p1qnpp2/Q2p2p1/p6p/4p3/P1P1B2P/K1P2PP1/3R3R b - - 1 21

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