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

Position

White: king a3; queen b7; rook h7; pawns a2/c5/d4. Black: king f6; queen c4; bishops c3/e6; pawns c6/d5/e4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd2 — bishop c3→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen b7→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king f6→f5).
3. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king f5→g4).
4. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e5→e6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g4→f3).
5. Best move: Rh3+ — rook h7→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king f3→f2).
6. Best move: Qf5+ — queen e6→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
7. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h3→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
8. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f5→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king e2→e3).
9. Best move: Rh3+ — rook h1→h3, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, very long. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1Q5R/2p1bk2/2Pp4/2qPp3/K1b5/P7/8 b - - 2 41

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