Chess Puzzle #V9JGd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen d2; rooks g1/h1; bishop b3; knight f5; pawns d3/f2/f3/g6. Black: king g8; queens b2/f6; rook c8; knight a4; pawns d4/e5/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd2+ — queen b2→d2, captures queen, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kxd2 — king e2→d2, captures queen. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen f6→f5, captures knight).
3. Best move: gxf7+ — pawn g6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
4. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
5. Best move: Rxc8 — rook h8→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen f5→c8, captures rook).
6. Best move: Rg8 — rook g1→g8.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, double check, middlegame, very long. The key move gxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5p2/5qP1/4pN2/n2p4/1B1P1P2/1q1QKP2/6RR b - - 3 36

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