Chess Puzzle #4hing — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook f1; bishop b2; pawns a2/b4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/c7/d4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd6 — queen d8→d6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Rf8 — rook f1→f8. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d6→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf8 — queen e8→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: r1bq3k/1pp3p1/p6p/8/1P1pQ3/7P/PB4P1/5RK1 b - - 0 24

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