Chess Puzzle #S8rHk — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks e1/e7; pawns a2/a3/f5/g2/h2. Black: king c7; queen d2; rooks a8/f8; bishop e8; pawns a6/b7/c6/d3/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb6 — king c7→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen h4→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king b6→a5).
3. Best move: R7e2 — rook e7→e2. Opponent replies dxe2 (pawn d3→e2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen d4→d2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3br2/1pk1R2p/p1p2p2/5P2/7Q/P2p4/P2q2PP/4R2K b - - 2 31

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