Chess Puzzle #cfS73 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e8; rooks a1/g1; bishop c3; knights e5/g2; pawns a4/d2/g4/h3. Black: king h7; queen e2; rooks f2/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e3/e6/g7/h4. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe3 — pawn d2→e3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3 — queen e2→e3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nf3 (knight e5→f3).
3. Best move: Qf4+ — queen e3→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen f4→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Be5 (bishop c3→e5).
5. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen f3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh2 (bishop e5→h2).
6. Best move: Qf3 — queen h3→f3. Opponent replies Qh5+ (queen e8→h5, gives check).
7. Best move: Rh6 — rook f6→h6.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/ppp3pk/4pr2/4N3/P5Pp/2B1p2P/3PqrNK/R5R1 w - - 0 33

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