Chess Puzzle #5ddpw — Expert, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king e4; queen e3; pawn f4. Black: king a3; queen d1; pawn b5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (8 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ka4 — king a3→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen e3→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd4+ (queen d1→d4, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxd4 — king e4→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies b4 (pawn b5→b4).
4. Best move: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b4→b3).
5. Best move: Kc3 — king d4→c3. Opponent replies Ka3 (king a4→a3).
6. Best move: f6 — pawn f5→f6. Opponent replies b2 (pawn b3→b2).
7. Best move: f7 — pawn f6→f7. Opponent replies b1=Q (pawn b2→b1, promotes to queen).
8. Best move: f8=Q+ — pawn f7→f8, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Ka4 (king a3→a4).
9. Best move: Qa8+ — queen f8→a8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, queen endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Qd4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/8/1p6/4KP2/k3Q3/8/3q4 b - - 1 57

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