Chess Puzzle #FoWC9 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen e3; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e5/f2/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen f5; pawns a4/b5/c4/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen e3→d2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe4+ — queen f5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e2→f1).
3. Best move: Qxf3 — queen e4→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qd8+ (queen d2→d8, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Opponent replies Qf6+ (queen d8→f6, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f3→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies exf6+ (pawn e5→f6, captures queen, gives check).
6. Best move: Kf8 — king g7→f8. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
7. Best move: Ke8 — king f8→e8. Opponent replies Ke3 (king e2→e3).
8. Best move: Kd7 — king e8→d7.

Tactical themes

defensive move, deflection, endgame, equality, very long. The key move is Qe4+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5p1p/4p1p1/1p2PqP1/p1p4P/P3QN2/1PP1KP2/8 w - - 6 35

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