Chess Puzzle #84IYP — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c3; queen d5; pawns a3/b3/f3/g3. Black: king g5; queen f5; pawns a6/c5/e5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen f5→f6).
3. Best move: gxh4+ — pawn g3→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g5→f5).
4. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen d8→f6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king f5→f6, captures queen).
5. Best move: Kc4 — king c3→c4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, queen endgame, very long. The key move gxh4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/8/p5p1/2pQpqkp/8/PPK2PP1/8/8 b - - 4 42

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