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

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a8/d8; pawns f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c5; rook d4; bishop f8; knight d7; pawns e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd6 — queen c5→d6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d8→d7, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen d6→d7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook a8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
4. Best move: Qg8+ — queen b3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
5. Best move: Rf7 — rook f8→f7. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen d7→f7, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxf7 — queen g8→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, crushing, deflection, discovered attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: R2R1b1k/3n3p/6p1/2q2p2/3rp3/1Q5P/5PP1/6K1 b - - 3 34

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