Chess Puzzle #AOvDd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g6; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knights c6/f6; pawns a5/b7/c7/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxh6 — bishop c1→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxh6 (knight g4→h6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Opponent replies Bf5 (bishop c8→f5).
4. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f1→f5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxf5 (rook f8→f5, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
6. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
7. Best move: Nxc5 — knight e6→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, pin, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1pp3p1/2n2nQp/p1q1p3/8/2P2N2/PP2B1PP/R1B2R1K b - - 3 18

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