Chess Puzzle #bMFSb — Master, Black to move, endgame

Position

White: king f7; queen f1; pawn c2. Black: king f4; queen f3; pawn h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (9 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc4+ — queen f1→c4, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ke3+ — king f4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
3. Best move: Qe4+ — queen f3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe4+ (queen c4→e4, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxe4 — king e3→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c2→c4).
5. Best move: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e7→d6).
6. Best move: h3 — pawn h4→h3. Opponent replies c5 (pawn c4→c5).
7. Best move: h2 — pawn h3→h2. Opponent replies c6 (pawn c5→c6).
8. Best move: h1=Q — pawn h2→h1, promotes to queen. Opponent replies c7 (pawn c6→c7).
9. Best move: Qh3 — queen h1→h3. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d6→c6).
10. Best move: Qc8 — queen h3→c8.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, discovered attack, endgame, promotion, queen endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Ke3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/5K2/8/7p/5k2/5q2/2P5/5Q2 w - - 10 61

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