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

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks b1/f1; knights b6/c2; pawns a4/c3/f3/h2. Black: king b8; queen f4; rooks f8/h8; bishop g7; knights d3/e7; pawns a7/c5/g6/h3. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb6+ — queen b3→b6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen b6→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c8→d8).
4. Best move: Rb7 — rook b1→b7. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen f4→c7).
5. Best move: Rxc7 — rook b7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxb6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k3r1r/p3n1b1/1N4p1/2p5/P4q2/1QPn1P1p/2N4P/1R3R1K b - - 0 32

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