Chess Puzzle #XGOwj — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c5; rooks e1/e2; pawns a6/c4/d3/f3/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen g3; rooks b2/e8; pawns d4/g7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rbxe2 — rook b2→e2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen c5→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen h5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook e2→e8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
5. Best move: a7 — pawn a6→a7. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king f7→e8, captures rook).
6. Best move: a8=Q+ — pawn a7→a8, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, very long, X-ray attack. The key move Qxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/6pk/P7/2Q4p/2Pp4/3P1PqP/1r2R1P1/4R2K b - - 0 37

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