Chess Puzzle #BWVa9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks e1/f1; bishops f4/g4; knight c3; pawns a2/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen f7→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king d7→d8).
3. Best move: Qd6+ — queen e6→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d8→e8).
4. Best move: Bh5+ — bishop g4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
5. Best move: Bxg6+ — bishop h5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg6 (knight e7→g6, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen d6→g6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2b1r/1p1knQp1/p1p1p2p/3pP3/5BB1/2N5/PqP2PPP/4RRK1 b - - 1 16

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