Chess Puzzle #h7O5Y — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks d1/e1; bishop e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks d5/f8; bishop d3; pawns a7/b6/c5/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bd4 — bishop e3→d4. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxe1 — rook d1→e1, captures rook. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h7→h5).
4. Best move: Qc8+ — queen g4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen f6→d8).
5. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen c8→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long, X-ray attack. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1p2ppp/1p3q2/2pr4/6Q1/2PbB3/PP3P1P/3RR1K1 b - - 5 20

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