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

Position

White: king g2; queen c4; rook f3; knight a4; pawns a6/b5/d6/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rook a7; bishop d4; pawns c5/c7/g4/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen c4→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop d4→g7).
3. Best move: Qf5+ — queen f7→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen e4→f5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f3→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is Qf7+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/r1p5/P2P3p/1Pp5/N1Qbq1p1/5R2/6KP/8 b - - 0 35

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