Chess Puzzle #7nCZ1 — Intermediate, Black to move, endgame

Position

White: king f2; queen e3; pawns a3/g4/h3. Black: king f6; queen c2; pawns a4/g5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg3 — king f2→g3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb3 — queen c2→b3. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g3→f2).
3. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen b3→e3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe3 (king f2→e3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Ke5 — king f6→e5. Opponent replies Kd3 (king e3→d3).
5. Best move: Kf4 — king e5→f4. Opponent replies Kc4 (king d3→c4).
6. Best move: Kg3 — king f4→g3. Opponent replies Kb5 (king c4→b5).
7. Best move: Kxh3 — king g3→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxa4 (king b5→a4, captures pawn).
8. Best move: Kxg4 — king h3→g4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, queen endgame, very long. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/7p/5k2/6p1/p5P1/P3Q2P/2q2K2/8 w - - 3 49

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