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

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/h3; bishop a3; pawns a2/b3/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight b4; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a7→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen c2→f5).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c1→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
5. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook c7→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
6. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h8→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/p5p1/1p2pp2/3pP2Q/1n1P4/BP5R/P1q3PP/R5K1 b - - 1 19

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