Chess Puzzle #8UmtQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rook f2; bishop e5; pawns c2/e3/e6/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen b5; rook a2; bishops a3/c4; pawns e4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe8 — queen b5→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd7 — queen d1→d7. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen e8→d7, captures queen).
3. Best move: exd7 — pawn e6→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop a3→e7).
4. Best move: Bd6 — bishop e5→d6. Opponent replies Ra8 (rook a2→a8).
5. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop d6→e7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qd7.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6pp/4P3/1q2B3/2b1p3/b3P1PP/r1P2R1K/3Q4 b - - 0 30

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