Chess Puzzle #9MXAJ — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks e1/f2; bishop f4; knight d2; pawns a2/c3/e6/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/f8; knight a5; pawns a7/b6/c4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e8→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures rook. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures rook).
3. Best move: f7+ — pawn f6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Bb8+ — bishop f4→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
5. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f2→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qd6+ — queen g3→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
7. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d6→e6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, discovered attack, discovered check, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3rbk1/pb3p1p/1p2PPp1/n6q/2p2B2/2P3Q1/P2N1RPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 24

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