Chess Puzzle #52svh — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e5; bishop f3; pawns f2/f4/g3/h6. Black: king d7; queen c4; knight e7; pawns a7/c5/c6/d2/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen c4→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen e5→d4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c5→d4, captures queen).
3. Best move: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Opponent replies Nxf5 (knight e7→f5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: h7 — pawn h6→h7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/p2knp2/2p4P/2p1Q3/2q2P2/5BP1/3p1P1K/8 b - - 0 31

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