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

Position

White: king f1; queen a4; rooks b1/h1; bishops d5/g3; pawns a2/d3/e4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king c8; queen f6; rooks d8/h8; bishop c5; knight d4; pawns b7/c6/d6/e5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen f6→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a4→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
3. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
4. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop d5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen f3→f7, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen a8→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king e8→d8, captures queen).
6. Best move: Rxf7 — rook b7→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attack on f2/f7, deflection, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1p3p2/2pp1q1p/2bBp1p1/Q2nP3/3P1PB1/P4P1P/1R3K1R b - - 0 18

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