Chess Puzzle #9Gf3S — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f2; rooks e1/f1; bishop h6; pawns a2/b4/c2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/e8; bishop e6; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf7 — bishop e6→f7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4 — queen f2→d4. Opponent replies Ne5 (knight c4→e5).
3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen c6→d7).
4. Best move: Qxd7 — queen d4→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd4.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppp4p/2q1b1pB/5p2/1Pn5/2P5/P1P2QPP/4RR1K b - - 2 20

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