Chess Puzzle #vYS40 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f5; rooks d1/g1; bishops d4/d7; pawns a3/c4/e3/h5. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/e7; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be6+ — bishop d7→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rg6 — rook g1→g6. Opponent replies Be4 (bishop b7→e4).
4. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop d4→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxf5 (bishop e4→f5, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pbpBr1p1/1p3n1p/5Q1P/2PB3q/P3P3/8/2KR2R1 b - - 6 29

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