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

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook b1; bishops d3/g3; pawns a2/d4/e5/f2/f3/g5. Black: king e7; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; knight d5; pawns a7/b5/c6/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen c2→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
3. Best move: Qd6+ — queen c5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
4. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen d6→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
5. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p3kp2/2p1p2p/qp1nP1P1/3P4/3B1PB1/P1Q2P2/1R4K1 b - - 0 22

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