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

Position

White: king d1; queen a7; rooks a1/h1; bishop d6; pawns c2/c3/e5/f4/g2/h5. Black: king c8; queen e4; rooks d8/h8; bishop c6; pawns b7/d4/e6/f5/g4/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d8→d6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxh8 — queen a8→h8, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc3+ (pawn d4→c3, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: exd6 — pawn e5→d6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen e4→e3).
5. Best move: Qg7+ — queen h8→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd6 (king d7→d6, captures pawn).
6. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen e3→e5, captures queen).
7. Best move: fxe5+ — pawn f4→e5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, skewer, very long. The key move fxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/Qp6/2bBp2p/4Pp1P/3pqPp1/2P5/2P3P1/R2K3R b - - 1 23

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