Chess Puzzle #hfX3X — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen a6; rook b1; bishop e1; pawns a3/b5/e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop g7; knight d4; pawns c7/d5/g5/g6/h4. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf4 — pawn g5→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b6 — pawn b5→b6. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c7→c5).
3. Best move: b7 — pawn b6→b7. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen d7→c6).
4. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b8→c7).
5. Best move: Ba5+ — bishop e1→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c7→d7).
6. Best move: Bxd8 — bishop a5→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop g7→e5, captures pawn).
7. Best move: Qa7 — queen a8→a7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, skewer, very long. The key move is b6.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/2pq2b1/Q5p1/1P1pP1p1/3n1P1p/P6P/6P1/1R2BK2 b - - 3 28

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