Chess Puzzle #3Mx7n — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; knight c6; pawns b3/e5/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen a2; bishop a6; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb3 — queen a2→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg5 — queen g4→g5. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen b3→b6).
3. Best move: Qe7 — queen g5→e7. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
4. Best move: Nd8 — knight c6→d8. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen b6→d8, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5ppp/b1N1p3/p2pP3/6QP/1P3P2/q5PK/8 b - - 1 26

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