Chess Puzzle #79QVb — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen f7; rook c1; bishop e3; knight d2; pawns d4/e5/g4/g5/h2. Black: king d7; queen a2; rooks b7/c3; pawns a6/c2/d5/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc8 — king d7→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
3. Best move: Qd6+ — queen f8→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
4. Best move: Rf1 — rook c1→f1. Opponent replies Re7 (rook b7→e7).
5. Best move: Qb8+ — queen d6→b8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Qf8+.

Position data

FEN: 8/1r1k1Q1p/p3p1p1/3pP1P1/3P2P1/2r1B2K/q1pN3P/2R5 b - - 0 31

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