Chess Puzzle #Kr5QU — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a4; queen f1; rooks a1/f6; bishops c1/f7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king d8; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights b5/e5; pawns a5/b7/d5/d6/h4/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight b5→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd6+ — rook f6→d6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d8→c7).
3. Best move: Bxg5 — bishop c1→g5, captures queen. Opponent replies b5+ (pawn b7→b5, gives check).
4. Best move: Ka3 — king a4→a3. Opponent replies b4+ (pawn b5→b4, gives check).
5. Best move: Ka4 — king a3→a4. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight e5→d7).
6. Best move: Rc6+ — rook d6→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc6 (king c7→c6, captures rook).
7. Best move: Bxd5+ — bishop f7→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c6→b6).
8. Best move: Be7 — bishop g5→e7. Opponent replies Ka6 (king b6→a6).
9. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop d5→c4, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, exposed king, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bk3r/1p3B1p/3p1R2/pn1pn1q1/K3P2p/3P3P/PPP3P1/R1B2Q2 b - - 1 20

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