Chess Puzzle #H2G9G — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen e6; rook g1; bishop d3; pawns c5/f2/h6. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks a8/f8; bishops a6/g7; pawns b3/c6/f5. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook f8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: hxg7+ — pawn h6→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook g8→g7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook g1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook g7→h7).
4. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Bxf5+ — bishop d3→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
6. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
7. Best move: Be6+ — bishop f5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
8. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
9. Best move: Qg5+ — queen h4→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, exposed king, middlegame, very long. The key move hxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/6b1/b1p1Q2P/2P2p2/8/1p1B1K2/1q3P2/6R1 b - - 0 31

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