Chess Puzzle #APuPC — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks f1/h8; bishop g6; pawns a2/b2/g2. Black: king f8; queen d4; rook a8; bishops c8/e5; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f4. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxh8 — bishop e5→h8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
3. Best move: Qf7+ — queen e8→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
5. Best move: Qh5+ — queen h7→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g5→f6).
6. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen h5→h8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg6 (king f6→g6, captures bishop).
7. Best move: Qxd4 — queen h8→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, interference, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k1R/pp6/2p3B1/3pb3/2nq1p2/8/PP2Q1P1/2K2R2 b - - 1 23

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