Chess Puzzle #L4aQT — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen a4; rook a2; bishop f3; pawns d3/e4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b1; rook g1; knight e7; pawns d4/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight e7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen a4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxf7 — queen e8→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen b1→f1).
4. Best move: Qf5 — queen f7→f5.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, long. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4npp1/7p/4p3/Q2pP1P1/3P1B1P/R4P1K/1q4r1 b - - 2 35

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