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

Position

White: king a4; queen g4; bishop c2; pawns c3/c4/d5. Black: king e7; queen e5; rook b8; pawns a5/a7/c5/d6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen e5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen g4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen e6→d6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen d6→b8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, long. The key move Qxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/p3k1p1/3p4/p1pPq3/K1P3Q1/2P5/2B5/8 b - - 3 39

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