Chess Puzzle #P003M — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook e1; bishops c3/d3; pawns a4/b2/f2/f6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d8/f8; bishop d7; knights a1/e7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight e7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5 — queen e2→h5. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e6→e5).
3. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop c3→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rfe8 (rook f8→e8).
4. Best move: Qh6 — queen h5→h6. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen b6→f6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop e5→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
6. Best move: Bf1 — bishop d3→f1. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook e1→f1, captures bishop, gives check).
7. Best move: Kxf1 — king g1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bb5+ (bishop d7→b5, gives check).
8. Best move: axb5 — pawn a4→b5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qh5.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1p1bnp1p/pq2pP2/8/P7/2BB4/1P2QPPP/n3R1K1 b - - 0 23

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