Chess Puzzle #ianvj — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/f1; bishop e2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f4/g2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/d8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g4/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen d4→e3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: g3 — pawn g4→g3. Opponent replies Rf3 (rook f1→f3).
3. Best move: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Opponent replies Rxd4 (rook d1→d4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
5. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Qg1 (queen e3→g1).
6. Best move: Qxg1+ — queen h1→g1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg1 (king f1→g1, captures queen).
7. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d8→d4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxg1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1br2k1/pp3pp1/2p5/3pP3/3Q1Ppq/2N5/PPP1B1P1/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19

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