Chess Puzzle #1DMG9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen h6; rooks c1/h1; pawns a2/c3/d5/f3/h7. Black: king g7; queen c4; rooks c8/f5; bishop a6; pawns a7/b6/d6/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf6 — king g7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h8=Q+ — pawn h7→h8, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh8 (rook c8→h8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen h6→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f6→e7).
4. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f5→f7).
5. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook h7→f7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, middlegame, promotion, very long. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/p5kP/bp1p2pQ/3Ppr2/2q5/2P2P2/P4K2/2R4R b - - 1 30

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