Chess Puzzle #rC0kq — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks f1/f3; pawns a2/c2/c3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen h6→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen e7→g7).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen g6→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Rh3+ — rook f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Qh7 (queen g7→h7).
5. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h3→h7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
6. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f1→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook d8→f8, captures rook).
7. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen e6→d7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp1nq3/2p2n1Q/4p3/4P3/2P2R2/P1P3PP/5R1K b - - 0 19

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