Chess Puzzle #9KaJ3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen b3; rooks e1/f1; bishop f4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks d3/f3; bishop c7; pawns a7/b7/c5/c6/e5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf4 — pawn e5→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6 — knight e4→f6. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
4. Best move: Qg8+ — queen b3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
5. Best move: Re6 — rook e8→e6. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d3→d8).
6. Best move: Rxf6+ — rook e6→f6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7k/ppb1q1p1/2p4p/2p1p3/4NB2/1QPr1r1P/PP3PK1/4RR2 b - - 0 21

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