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

Position

White: king e3; queen f7; rook f1; pawns a2/b2/d6/f3/g3. Black: king h8; queen c2; bishop h3; pawns a6/b5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf1 — bishop h3→f1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Qe4+ — queen e8→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe4+ (queen c2→e4, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxe4 — king e3→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies Bh3 (bishop f1→h3).
5. Best move: g4 — pawn g3→g4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, very long. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: 7k/5Qp1/p2P3p/1p6/8/4KPPb/PPq5/5R2 b - - 4 38

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