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

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks e1/f1; bishop a2; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/e7; bishops e4/h8; pawns a7/b5/c5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bb7 — bishop e4→b7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Bd4+ (bishop h8→d4, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen d8→e7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f1→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen e7→f7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop a2→f7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g8→f7, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Qf4+ — queen h6→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
7. Best move: Qxb8 — queen f4→b8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q2kb/p3rp1p/6pQ/1pp5/4b3/P2P3P/BPP3P1/4RRK1 b - - 0 21

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