Chess Puzzle #tufLf — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rooks b1/b7; bishop g2; pawns a2/c2/d3/e4/h3. Black: king a5; queen d4; rooks d6/h8; bishop g6; pawns a6/c5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd1 — queen g4→d1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h8→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh3 (bishop g2→h3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bxe4+ — bishop g6→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d3→e4, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen d4→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bg2 (bishop h3→g2).
5. Best move: Rh6+ — rook d6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
6. Best move: Qe3+ — queen e4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
7. Best move: Rf6+ — rook h6→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qf3 (queen d1→f3).
8. Best move: Rxf3+ — rook f6→f3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop g2→f3, captures rook).
9. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen e3→f3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1R3pp1/p2r2b1/k1p5/3qP1Q1/3P3P/P1P3B1/1R5K w - - 0 31

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