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

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rooks d1/e1; bishop b5; knights c4/e3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knight e7; pawns a7/c6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8 — queen a8→b8. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook d8→d1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxd1 — rook e1→d1, captures rook. Opponent replies Nd5 (knight e7→d5).
4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen b8→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxc7 (knight d5→c7, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight c7→e8).
6. Best move: Rxc8 — rook d8→c8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bxe3 (bishop c5→e3, captures knight).
7. Best move: Nxe3 — knight c4→e3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qb8.

Position data

FEN: Q1br1k1r/p1q1npp1/2p4p/1Bb1p3/2N1P3/4N3/PP3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 3 19

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