Chess Puzzle #EUmA8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen g3; rook f2; bishop d4; pawns a3/e3/f3/h4. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook c8; bishop d7; pawns a6/f6/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc2 — rook c8→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: e4 — pawn e3→e4. Opponent replies Qh3+ (queen f5→h3, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxh3 — queen g3→h3, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxh3+ (bishop d7→h3, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxh3 — king g2→h3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is e4.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3b4/p4pp1/5q1p/3B3P/P3PPQ1/5RK1/8 b - - 0 32

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