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

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks a1/f1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks e2/e8; bishop g7; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/c5/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb2 — rook e2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen d7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Rf4 — rook f1→f4. Opponent replies Nc7 (knight a6→c7).
4. Best move: Qf7 — queen e8→f7. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight c7→d5, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Rh4+ — rook f4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh4 (queen g5→h4, captures rook).
6. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g3→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, hanging piece, middlegame, pin, quiet move, very long. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp1Q2b1/n5p1/2pP2q1/8/2P3P1/PP2r2P/R4RK1 b - - 0 30

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