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

Position

White: king f1; queen f2; rooks b1/e1; bishop b5; knight c5; pawns a2/c2/e4/f3/g3. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks g8/h8; bishop c8; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nh3 — knight f4→h3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Na6+ — knight c5→a6, gives check. Opponent replies bxa6 (pawn b7→a6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bc6+ — bishop b5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Bb7 (bishop c8→b7).
4. Best move: Qc5 — queen f2→c5. Opponent replies Rh6 (rook h8→h6).
5. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb7 (queen c7→b7, captures rook).
6. Best move: Bxb7 — bishop c6→b7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1kb3rr/ppq2p2/8/1BN1p2p/4Pn2/5PP1/P1P2Q2/1R2RK2 b - - 0 27

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