Chess Puzzle #d7u39 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen b4; rooks c3/g1; bishop a3; pawns a5/b3/c2/d4/e5/f4. Black: king b7; queen h6; rooks a8/e8; knights f5/f7; pawns a7/b6/c6/d5/e6/h3/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b6→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: a6+ — pawn a5→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b7→c7).
3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen b4→b5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nd8 (knight f7→d8).
4. Best move: Rxc6+ — rook c3→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc6 (knight d8→c6, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qb7+ — queen b5→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c7→d8).
6. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen b7→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, interference, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/pk3n2/1pp1p2q/P2pPn1p/1Q1P1P2/BPR4p/K1P5/6R1 b - - 0 38

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