Chess Puzzle #6qeMg — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a3; rooks d1/h3; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/d5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a8; rooks c2/d8; knight c3; pawns a7/b6/e6/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight c3→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7 — queen a3→e7. Opponent replies Rxg2+ (rook c2→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxg2 — king g1→g2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd5+ (queen a8→d5, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg3 — king g2→g3. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook d8→f8).
5. Best move: Nd7 — knight e5→d7.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qe7.

Position data

FEN: q2r2k1/p5pp/1p2p3/3PNp2/5P2/QPn4R/P1r3PP/3R2K1 b - - 0 24

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