Chess Puzzle #16QXs — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; knight f3; pawns c5/d4/g2/g4. Black: king f5; queen b7; knight c3; pawns a4/c6/d5/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxg4 — king f5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf6 — queen d6→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen b7→b1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen b1→f5).
4. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king g4→f4).
5. Best move: Nd3+ — knight e5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke4 (king f4→e4).
6. Best move: Nf2+ — knight d3→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen f5→f2, captures knight).
7. Best move: Qxf2 — queen f6→f2, captures queen. Opponent replies a3 (pawn a4→a3).
8. Best move: Qd2 — queen f2→d2.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, very long, X-ray attack. The key move Qxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/1q5p/2pQ1p2/2Pp1kp1/p2P2P1/2n2N2/6P1/6K1 b - - 0 41

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