Chess Puzzle #AoJfK — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d4; bishop g3; knight d2; pawns b3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d1; rooks f8/g8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook g8→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen d4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c8→d8).
3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen c3→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d8→e8).
4. Best move: Qb8+ — queen c7→b8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc3+.

Position data

FEN: 2k2rr1/pb3p1p/1p2p3/3p4/3QP3/1P4BP/3N1PPK/3q4 b - - 6 26

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