Chess Puzzle #Hgw5I — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e4; knight d4; pawns a2/b4/c3/d5/f6/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen d2; bishop d7; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen d2→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e4→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
3. Best move: Qd8+ — queen e7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Qf8 — queen d8→f8. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f8→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/1ppb1pp1/p2p1P1p/3P4/1P1NQ3/2P4P/P2q2PK/8 b - - 0 27

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