Chess Puzzle #8nQPN — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rook d1; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/h2. Black: king e8; queen h1; rook h8; bishop f8; knight d7; pawns a7/c7/e7/f6/f7/g4. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh2 — queen h1→h2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa6 — queen e2→a6. Opponent replies Qxf4+ (queen h2→f4, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kb1 — king c1→b1. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
4. Best move: Qc6 — queen a6→c6. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen f4→d6).
5. Best move: Qa8+ — queen c6→a8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qa6.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/p1pnpp2/5p2/8/5Pp1/8/PPP1Q2P/2KR2Nq b k - 1 16

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