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

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks d1/f4; pawns b3/c2/f5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b4; rooks d8/f8; pawns a5/b6/d6/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen b4→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4 — queen g3→h4. Opponent replies Qe5 (queen c5→e5).
3. Best move: Re1 — rook d1→e1. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e5→f4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf4 — queen h4→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qh4.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/5p1p/1p1p1p2/p4P2/1q3R2/1P4Q1/2P3PP/3R3K b - - 4 25

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