Chess Puzzle #e9MRu — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f1; bishop e6; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e3; knight f3; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight f3→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen f8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
4. Best move: Qe8+ — queen g8→e8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qf8+.

Position data

FEN: 7k/6p1/p2pB2p/2pP4/1pP5/1P2qnP1/P5KP/5Q2 b - - 4 32

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