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

Position

White: king f1; queen e8; bishop e2; knight c3; pawns d5/e6/f2/f3/h4. Black: king c7; queen a5; rook a6; bishop b2; pawns b5/c4/e7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen a5→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen e8→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c7→b6).
3. Best move: Qd8+ — queen e7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc5 (king b6→c5).
4. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7. Opponent replies Qc1+ (queen c3→c1, gives check).
5. Best move: Kg2 — king f1→g2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, exposed king, very long. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/2k1p3/r3P1p1/qp1P3p/2p4P/2N2P2/1b2BP2/5K2 b - - 2 27

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