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

Position

White: king h1; queen d8; rook d4; pawns a3/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king h6; queen e5; rook e6; pawns a6/b5/f6/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg3 — queen e5→g3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen d8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
3. Best move: h4+ — pawn h3→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh4+ (queen g3→h4, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxh4 — rook d4→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qf8+.

Position data

FEN: 3Q4/8/p3rppk/1p2q2p/3R4/P1P4P/1P4P1/7K b - - 6 36

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