Chess Puzzle #do2LW — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d3; queen e6; knights f4/h6; pawns c2/f2/g5. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook a7; bishop c3; pawns a3/b4/d6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen d8→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen e6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
3. Best move: Nf5+ — knight h6→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf5+ (queen g5→f5, captures knight, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxf5 — queen c8→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is Qc8+.

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/r6p/3pQ2N/6P1/1p3N2/p1bK4/2P2P2/8 b - - 7 39

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