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

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook f6; knight c5; pawns b2/d6/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a7; rook f7; bishop d3; knight c2; pawns c4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight c2→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f6→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen a7→f7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qe6 — queen d5→e6. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen f7→e6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxe6 — knight c5→e6, captures queen. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
5. Best move: d7 — pawn d6→d7. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king f7→e6, captures knight).
6. Best move: d8=Q — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, collinear, middlegame, promotion, very long. The key move Rxf7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/q4r1p/3P1Rp1/2NQ4/2p3P1/3b3P/1Pn5/6K1 b - - 1 43

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