Chess Puzzle #1MU40 — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king f3; queen e3; pawns a4/f4. Black: king h8; queen b2; pawns g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen b2→b4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Qe4+ — queen e8→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe4+ (queen b4→e4, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxe4 — king f3→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, queen endgame. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: 7k/6p1/7p/8/P4P2/4QK2/1q6/8 b - - 10 45

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