Chess Puzzle #d8dtM — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c3; bishop g2; pawns d6/e5/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; bishop b5; pawns c4/f4/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen c5→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3 — queen c3→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f4→e3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2. Opponent replies c3+ (pawn c4→c3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxe3 — king e2→e3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/7p/3P2p1/1bq1P3/2p2p2/2Q2P2/6BP/5K2 b - - 2 37

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