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

Position

White: king e2; queen b8; rook h2; bishop d2; knight f4; pawns e5/f3/g4/h4. Black: king e8; queen a1; rooks c2/h8; bishop h7; knight d5; pawns a6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd6+ — queen b8→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
3. Best move: Nxd5 — knight f4→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd2+ (rook c2→d2, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxd2 — king e2→d2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qd4+ (queen a1→d4, gives check).
5. Best move: Ke2 — king d2→e2. Opponent replies Qb2+ (queen d4→b2, gives check).
6. Best move: Ke3 — king e2→e3.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qd6+.

Position data

FEN: 1Q2k2r/5ppb/p6p/3nP3/5NPP/5P2/2rBK2R/q7 b k - 1 25

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