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

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rook c8; knight b3; pawns d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king a7; queen a2; rook b6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb3 — rook b6→b3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen e5→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king a7→b6).
3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen b8→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb5 (king b6→b5).
4. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen c7→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king b5→a5).
5. Best move: Rc5+ — rook c8→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Rb5 (rook b3→b5).
6. Best move: Rxb5+ — rook c5→b5, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, very long. The key move Qxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2R5/kp3p1p/pr2p3/3pQp2/3P4/1N5P/q4PP1/6K1 b - - 0 31

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