Chess Puzzle #gfRo3 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen a5; rook c1; knights d2/e2; pawns b2/d3/f5/h4. Black: king e8; queen g4; rooks c8/h8; bishop c5; pawns a4/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe2 — queen g4→e2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen a5→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c1→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxc5 (rook c8→c5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc5 — queen b5→c5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen e2→d3, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qb6+ — queen c5→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king d8→d7).
6. Best move: Qb7+ — queen b6→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
7. Best move: Qa8+ — queen b7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
8. Best move: Qxh8 — queen a8→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move is Qb5+.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/6pp/5p2/Q1b1pP2/p5qP/3P4/1P1NN3/K1R5 b k - 1 34

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