Chess Puzzle #1HUW0 — Beginner, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king a5; queen b8; pawn a2. Black: king h4; queen g1; pawn h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe1+ — queen g1→e1, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb4+ — queen b8→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb4+ (queen e1→b4, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxb4 — king a5→b4, captures queen. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h7→h5).
4. Best move: a4 — pawn a2→a4. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h4→h3).
5. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies h4 (pawn h5→h4).
6. Best move: a6 — pawn a5→a6. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h3→g2).
7. Best move: a7 — pawn a6→a7. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h4→h3).
8. Best move: a8=Q+ — pawn a7→a8, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, queen endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Qb4+.

Position data

FEN: 1Q6/7p/8/K7/7k/8/P7/6q1 b - - 0 41

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