Chess Puzzle #V8QwX — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook f1; bishop c5; knights d5/f3; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishop g4; knights f7/g8; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop g4→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxa7+ — bishop c5→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
3. Best move: Nb6+ — knight d5→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen c7→b6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rc1+ — rook f1→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
5. Best move: Qa4+ — queen b3→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen b6→c6).
6. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxa7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r2nr/ppq2np1/7p/2BN4/1P4b1/PQ3N2/5PPP/5RK1 b - - 1 20

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