Chess Puzzle #VDBa6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g3; rooks g1/g5; bishop h4; pawns b3/c5/d4/e5/f4/h3. Black: king h7; queen d5; rooks a8/b8; bishop f7; pawns a4/a5/c6/e6/f5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb3 — queen d5→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook g5→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bf6+ — bishop h4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
5. Best move: Qh4 — queen g3→h4.

Tactical themes

attraction, clearance, crushing, defensive move, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rr6/5b1k/2p1p1p1/p1PqPpRp/p2P1P1B/1P4QP/7K/6R1 b - - 1 35

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