Chess Puzzle #1MQeJ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook b1; bishops c1/c2; pawns b5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b7; rook b8; bishop e5; knight e4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Ba3+ — bishop c1→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
4. Best move: Qg8+ — queen h7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
5. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, interference, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/1q3pp1/4p2p/1P1pb3/4n3/3Q1P1P/2B3P1/1RB3K1 b - - 0 28

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