Chess Puzzle #23k9K — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop c2; pawns a3/b2/c3/e5/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/f8; knight g4; pawns a4/b5/c6/d5/e4/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen f5→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg4 — queen e2→g4, captures knight. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f7→f5).
3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf4+ (queen f2→f4, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxf4 — queen g4→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

en passant, equality, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5p2/2p4p/1p1pPqpP/p3p1n1/P1P5/1PB1QPP1/2KR3R b - - 0 25

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