Chess Puzzle #F9DOd — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; bishop c4; pawns a5/e3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen e7; knight c5; pawns a7/c6/e4/f5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh6 — king h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen d4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qh7 (queen e7→h7).
3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen h8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen h7→g7).
4. Best move: Qxc5 — queen f8→c5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Qh8+.

Position data

FEN: 8/p3q2k/2p3p1/P1n2p1p/2BQp3/4P1PP/5P2/6K1 b - - 0 36

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