Chess Puzzle #K3666 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishop b2; pawns a6/b3/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight a8; pawns b4/b7/c5/e5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen d7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb7+ — pawn a6→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb7 (queen c6→b7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a1→a8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
4. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen f3→b7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb7 (king c7→b7, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rxd8 — rook a8→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move axb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: n1kr1b1r/1p1q2pp/P3pp2/2p1p3/1pPP4/1P3Q2/1B3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 19

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