Chess Puzzle #MH3UG — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; bishop h6; knight f3; pawns c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; pawns d5/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7 — queen c5→c7. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a2→a1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f6→f5).
4. Best move: c3 — pawn c2→c3. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen a1→c3, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c7→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Qc7.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1b5p/5ppB/2Qp4/8/5N1P/q1P2PP1/6K1 b - - 0 30

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