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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/g3; bishop c1; knight e4; pawns a3/b3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight d4; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen f5→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bb2 — bishop c1→b2. Opponent replies Nf3+ (knight d4→f3, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxf3 — queen d3→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxb2 (queen e5→b2, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qf6 — queen f3→f6. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen b2→f6, captures queen).
5. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
6. Best move: Nxd7 — knight f6→d7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p1b1pp1/p3p2p/4Pq2/3nN3/PP1Q2R1/6PP/R1B3K1 b - - 1 20

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