Chess Puzzle #1AvDn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g3; pawns a7/b5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; knight b6; pawns d4/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen c5→b5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen g3→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: a8=Q — pawn a7→a8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Nxa8 (knight b6→a8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Qxb5 — queen b8→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, promotion. The key move is Qb8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/P4pp1/1n5p/1Pqp4/3p4/5PQP/6PK/8 b - - 1 45

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