Chess Puzzle #ma3kB — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen h5; rooks d6/h1; bishop f1; knight f5; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop g5; knight c2; pawns a6/b5/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c2→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6 — rook d6→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g5→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f5→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h5→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
5. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
6. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h8→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
7. Best move: Qxc7 — queen h7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2q2pp1/p2R3p/1p2pNbQ/2P1P3/1P6/P1n2PP1/3K1B1R b - - 2 22

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