Chess Puzzle #GETxV — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks b1/b6; bishop f2; pawns a2/c4/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight h5; pawns a6/b7/c3/d6/e5/h4. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook d8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa6 — rook b6→a6, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxa6 (pawn b7→a6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa6+ — queen a4→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rb7 (rook d7→b7).
4. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a6→a8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move Qxa6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/1p2q3/pR1p4/4p2n/Q1P1P2p/2pP3P/P4BP1/1R4K1 b - - 2 25

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