Chess Puzzle #E9qu1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen g6; rooks a1/h3; knight b1; pawns a2/c2/e3/f2/g2/h5. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b2/c8; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king h7→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h6 — pawn h5→h6. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: hxg7 — pawn h6→g7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxg7 (bishop b2→g7, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
5. Best move: Rf3+ — rook h3→f3, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move is h6.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r2/1pp3pk/p3p1Q1/3p3P/8/4P2R/PbP2PP1/RN2K3 b Q - 1 17

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