Chess Puzzle #H3XAh — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; rooks b1/f1; knight f4; pawns a3/b6/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks e4/f8; bishop b7; pawns a5/a6/d5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc4 — rook e4→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6 — knight f4→e6. Opponent replies Rc2+ (rook c4→c2, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh3 — king g2→h3. Opponent replies Bc8 (bishop b7→c8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen c5→f8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxc2 — queen d3→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxe6+ (bishop c8→e6, captures knight, gives check).
6. Best move: Kg2 — king h3→g2. Opponent replies Bf5 (bishop e6→f5).
7. Best move: Qf2 — queen c2→f2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1b5p/pP4p1/p1qp4/4rN2/P2Q2P1/6KP/1R3R2 b - - 4 30

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