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

Position

White: king g4; queen d6; pawns a4/c5/e5/g5/h4. Black: king f7; queen e7; pawns a5/d4/e6/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen e7→d6, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxd6 — pawn c5→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies d3 (pawn d4→d3).
3. Best move: Kf3 — king g4→f3. Opponent replies d2 (pawn d3→d2).
4. Best move: Ke2 — king f3→e2. Opponent replies d1=Q+ (pawn d2→d1, promotes to queen, gives check).
5. Best move: Kxd1 — king e2→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move cxd6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/4qkp1/3Qp1p1/p1P1P1P1/P2p2KP/8/8/8 b - - 1 41

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