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

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop a2; knight g3; pawns a5/b4/c3/f2/g2. Black: king g7; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/c4/f5/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen f6→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e2→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
3. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e7→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
5. Best move: Rh1+ — rook d1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
6. Best move: Rh5+ — rook h1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures rook).
7. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen f7→h5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, middlegame, sacrifice, very long, X-ray attack. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/6k1/p4qp1/Pp3p2/1Pp5/2Pn2N1/B3QPP1/1K1R3R b - - 0 25

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