Chess Puzzle #95AxV — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rook c8; pawns a5/b4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king h7; queen b1; rook g6; pawns a6/b7/d6/e5/f4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen b1→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa2 — queen f2→a2. Opponent replies d5 (pawn d6→d5).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen a2→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rc6 (rook g6→c6).
4. Best move: Qg8+ — queen d5→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
5. Best move: h5+ — pawn h4→h5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Qa2.

Position data

FEN: 2R5/1p4pk/p2p2rp/P3p3/1P3p1P/5P2/5QPK/1q6 b - - 2 40

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