Chess Puzzle #e9p95 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h5; queen e5; rook c7; bishop h3; pawns a4/e6/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks d3/f2; knight c3; pawn g5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe8+ — queen e7→e8, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kh6 — king h5→h6. Opponent replies Qf8+ (queen e8→f8, gives check).
3. Best move: Rg7+ — rook c7→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Kg6 — king h6→g6. Opponent replies Qf6+ (queen f8→f6, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxf6 — queen e5→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxf6+ (rook f2→f6, captures queen, gives check).
6. Best move: Kxf6 — king g6→f6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, exposed king, middlegame, very long. The key move is Kh6.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2R1q3/4P3/4Q1pK/P7/2nr2PB/5r1P/8 b - - 0 46

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