Chess Puzzle #Ii2gH — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rooks d1/h5; knights b1/f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/f3. Black: king g7; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f5; knight c6; pawns a7/b4/c4/d5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Rxf5 — rook h5→f5, captures bishop. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c4→c3).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b4→c3, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Nxc3 — knight b1→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qa3+ (queen a2→a3, gives check).
6. Best move: Kd2 — king c1→d2.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qh6+.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p5kp/2n3p1/q2p1bQR/1ppP1N2/5P2/PPP2P2/1NKR4 b - - 3 22

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