Chess Puzzle #8uZP0 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook e1; pawns b3/c4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king f8; queen c6; rook a2; pawns a7/b7/c5/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb2 — rook a2→b2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc1 — queen f4→c1. Opponent replies Rxb3 (rook b2→b3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qc2 — queen c1→c2. Opponent replies Rb6 (rook b3→b6).
4. Best move: Qxh7 — queen c2→h7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qc1.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/pp3p1p/2q2p2/2p5/2P2Q2/1P4PP/r4P2/4R1K1 b - - 1 33

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