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

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks e1/h3; bishop b2; knight c3; pawns a4/b3/c5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f5; bishop e5; knight e7; pawns a5/b7/c6/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Raf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook f5→e5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen c2→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen g5→f4, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Rf3 — rook h3→f3. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen f4→f3, captures rook).
6. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p2n1pp/2p5/p1Ppbrq1/P7/1PN4R/1BQ2PP1/4R1K1 b - - 3 22

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