Chess Puzzle #JL0Z0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/e3/e5/f5/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight h4; pawns a5/b7/c6/d5/f7/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen e7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e2→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: f6 — pawn f5→f6. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen e5→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen e3→d3, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen h5→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen d3→g6).
6. Best move: Qxh4 — queen g5→h4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/1p2qp2/2p5/p2pPPp1/P6n/2NBP3/1P2Q2P/R4RK1 b - - 0 21

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