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

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rook e4; pawns a2/c5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; pawns a7/d4/f5/g7/h4. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen f4→e4, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen d3→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f5→e4, captures queen).
3. Best move: c6 — pawn c5→c6. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
4. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, queen endgame. The key move Qxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p5p1/8/2P2p2/3pRq1p/3Q3P/P5P1/7K b - - 0 31

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