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

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/g2; pawns a2/b2/c2/c7/f4/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen c8; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knights f6/g6; pawns a6/b4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra7 — rook a8→a7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bc6+ — bishop g2→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxe7 (knight g6→e7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
5. Best move: Bd7 — bishop c6→d7. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen c8→d7, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Qxd7 — queen d8→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Bc6+.

Position data

FEN: r1q1k2r/2P1bppp/p2Q1nn1/8/1p3PP1/7P/PPP3B1/R1B1R1K1 b kq - 0 17

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