Chess Puzzle #n5v1C — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g6; rook f1; bishop c2; knight g4; pawns b3/d5/g2/g3/h5. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks b8/e8; bishop g7; pawns a3/a6/c7/d6/e5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6 — knight g4→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Rf5 — rook f1→f5. Opponent replies a2 (pawn a3→a2).
5. Best move: Rxg5+ — rook f5→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg5+ (queen e7→g5, captures rook, gives check).
6. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen h6→g5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r2rk2/2p1qpb1/p2p2Qp/3Pp1pP/6N1/pP4P1/2B3P1/2K2R2 b - - 0 27

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