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

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rook e1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f2; rook f8; pawns a7/b7/d6/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen f2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qf7 — queen e6→f7. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook f8→g8).
4. Best move: Re8 — rook e1→e8. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen b2→b1, gives check).
5. Best move: Kg2 — king h1→g2. Opponent replies Qxa2+ (queen b1→a2, captures pawn, gives check).
6. Best move: Qxa2 — queen f7→a2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp4pp/3pp3/8/3PQ3/2P3P1/PP3q1P/4R2K b - - 3 21

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