Chess Puzzle #DAW2Q — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rooks a1/g1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen f5; rooks g6/g8; bishop f4; pawns a7/b6/c5/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nh4 — knight f3→h4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxg2 — rook g6→g2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxg2 (rook g1→g2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen f5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
4. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h3→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
5. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
6. Best move: Re8+ — rook g8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king e2→f3).
7. Best move: Rxe1 — rook e8→e1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures rook).
8. Best move: Qxe1 — queen h1→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/p4p1p/1p3pr1/2p2q2/3P1b2/2P2N1P/PP3PP1/R3Q1RK w - - 9 27

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