Chess Puzzle #QJXID — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook c1; bishop g2; knight e4; pawns a2/d3/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c5/e6/f5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb2 — queen d4→b2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f5→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
4. Best move: Qg5 — queen h4→g5. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen b2→a1, gives check).
5. Best move: Bf1 — bishop g2→f1. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen a1→g7).
6. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook c7→g7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r3/pp4k1/4p1p1/2p2p1p/3qN2Q/3PP1P1/P4PBP/2R3K1 b - - 0 19

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