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

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rook f1; pawns a4/c2/d3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rook b8; bishop e7; pawns a7/c5/e3/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa2 — queen a3→a2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7 — queen c6→c7. Opponent replies Re8 (rook b8→e8).
3. Best move: Qd7 — queen c7→d7. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook e8→f8).
4. Best move: Qxe7 — queen d7→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check).
5. Best move: Kxf1 — king g1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen a2→b1, gives check).
6. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2. Opponent replies Qxc2+ (queen b1→c2, captures pawn, gives check).
7. Best move: Kxe3 — king e2→e3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, fork, very long. The key move is Qc7.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/p3b1pp/2Q1p3/2p1P3/P7/q2Pp3/2P3PP/5RK1 b - - 0 23

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