Chess Puzzle #g4yNc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook c1; bishop e2; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen c2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf7 — knight g5→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c1→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
4. Best move: Qc5 — queen e3→c5. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
5. Best move: Rxd7 — rook c7→d7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen b2→b1, gives check).
6. Best move: Bf1 — bishop e2→f1. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e8→d7, captures rook).
7. Best move: Qd6+ — queen c5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
8. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d6→e6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, equality, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3kr/pp3p2/4p1pp/3pP1N1/8/4Q3/PPq1BPPP/2R3K1 b - - 1 21

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