Chess Puzzle #Aqb7j — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen b8; knight f3; pawns a7/e5/g2/h3. Black: king h7; rooks d3/f1; pawns c2/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a8=Q — pawn a7→a8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: c1=Q — pawn c2→c1, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Qg8+ (queen b8→g8, gives check).
3. Best move: Kg6 — king h7→g6. Opponent replies Nh4+ (knight f3→h4, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh5 — king g6→h5. Opponent replies Qxf7+ (queen g8→f7, captures pawn, gives check).
5. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f1→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, very long. The key move is c1=Q.

Position data

FEN: 1Q6/P4ppk/4p2p/3pP3/8/3r1N1P/2p3PK/5r2 w - - 0 35

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