Chess Puzzle #kjv32 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a4; queen c2; rook e1; bishop a2; pawns a5/c4/d5/f2. Black: king g8; queen f3; rook b8; bishop b6; pawns d6/e4/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a5→b6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook b8→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb5 (king a4→b5).
3. Best move: Qa3 — queen f3→a3. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c4→c5).
4. Best move: Ra5+ — rook a8→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king b5→c6).
5. Best move: Rxc5+ — rook a5→c5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen c2→c5, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen a3→c5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Rxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/7p/1b1p2p1/P2P4/K1P1p3/5q2/B1Q2P2/4R3 w - - 0 44

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