Chess Puzzle #3TA0j — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rook d3; bishop b2; pawns a2/c4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook a8; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen f4→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7 — queen b4→e7. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d3→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e6→e5).
4. Best move: Rxc4 — rook d4→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qe7.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp4pp/2b1p1p1/3p4/1QP2q2/3R3P/PB3PP1/6K1 b - - 2 23

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