Chess Puzzle #9RbF6 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c3; pawns a6/b3/c2/e4/g2. Black: king e7; queen d7; knight d6; pawns c6/e5/f4/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke6 — king e7→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen c3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e6→e7).
3. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen h3→d7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e7→d7, captures queen).
4. Best move: a7 — pawn a6→a7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/3qk2p/P1pn4/4p3/4Pp2/1PQ5/2P3P1/2K5 b - - 2 37

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