Chess Puzzle #n2hcM — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b2; queen h2; rooks d5/h1; pawns a2/b3/c3/e4. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks b7/b8; knight h5; pawns a7/g4/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook b8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh5+ — rook d5→h5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen h2→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
4. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen h5→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen f6→g6).
5. Best move: Qxc8 — queen g4→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qg2+ (queen g6→g2, gives check).
6. Best move: Ka3 — king b2→a3.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/pr6/5qp1/3R3n/4P1p1/1PP5/PK5Q/7R b - - 3 39

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