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

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rook e1; pawns a2/c3/e6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook c7; pawns a7/b7/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c7→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd7 — queen d5→d7. Opponent replies Rc7 (rook c3→c7).
3. Best move: Qxc7 — queen d7→c7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen e7→c7, captures queen).
4. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move is Qd7.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/ppr1q2p/4P1p1/3Q1p2/8/2P5/P5PP/4R2K b - - 0 28

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