Chess Puzzle #5MMe3 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen f7; pawns a2/b2/c3/g6. Black: king e6; queen h4; pawns a7/b5/c6/d5/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke5 — king e6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: g7 — pawn g6→g7. Opponent replies Qh2+ (queen h4→h2, gives check).
3. Best move: Kd3 — king d2→d3. Opponent replies Qh3+ (queen h2→h3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kc2 — king d3→c2. Opponent replies Qg2+ (queen h3→g2, gives check).
5. Best move: Kb3 — king c2→b3.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, queen endgame, very long. The key move is g7.

Position data

FEN: 8/p4Q2/2p1k1P1/1p1p3p/7q/2P5/PP1K4/8 b - - 1 34

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