Chess Puzzle #C3qTp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; bishop d3; pawns a4/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; knight e7; pawns a5/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight e7→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c2→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen d6→f8).
3. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxf8 — queen c8→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, long. The key move is Qc8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4npp1/1p1qp2p/p7/P2P4/3BP1P1/2Q2P1P/6K1 b - - 3 31

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