Chess Puzzle #sQAe9 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e7; rook a5; knight d6; pawns c3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king h6; queen e3; rook a8; bishop e6; pawns a6/d5/e4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe6 — queen e7→e6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook a8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf7+ (knight d6→f7, gives check).
3. Best move: Kg7 — king h6→g7. Opponent replies Qe5+ (queen e6→e5, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxf7 — king g7→f7, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxa6 (rook a5→a6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qd3+ — queen e3→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
6. Best move: Qxa6 — queen d3→a6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, master, very long. The key move is Rf8+.

Position data

FEN: r7/4Q2p/p2Nb1pk/R2p4/3Pp3/2P1q2P/6P1/5K2 w - - 4 34

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