Chess Puzzle #SVxa5 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rook f3; bishop f4; pawns b4/d4/g2/h2. Black: king e4; queen d7; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; pawns c5/f5/f6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra3 — rook f3→a3. Opponent replies Rc3 (rook c8→c3).
3. Best move: Rxc3 — rook a3→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc3 (pawn d4→c3, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qf3+ — queen g3→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd4 (king e4→d4).
5. Best move: Qd1+ — queen f3→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Kc4 (king d4→c4).
6. Best move: Qxd7 — queen d1→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, skewer, very long. The key move is Ra3.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r2/3qb3/5p2/2p2p2/1P1PkB2/5RQ1/6PP/7K b - - 0 35

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