Chess Puzzle #kRbl8 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen h4; rooks e1/h5; bishop e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f4. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks c7/f6; bishop g7; pawns a6/b7/e4/e6/f5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook f6→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen h4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen d8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g6→g8).
5. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f8→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Rgg7 (rook g8→g7).
6. Best move: Rh1+ — rook e1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
7. Best move: Qd8+ — queen f6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
8. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen d8→c7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, exposed king, fork, interference, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1pr3b1/p3pr2/5p1R/3PpP1Q/2PqB3/PP3K2/4R3 b - - 5 29

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