Chess Puzzle #mM4xp — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook c1; pawns a2/b3/e5/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen a6; rook d8; bishop e7; pawns a7/b7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a6→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: e6 — pawn e5→e6. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
4. Best move: Rf1+ — rook c1→f1, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is e6.

Position data

FEN: 3rk3/pp2bp1p/q7/4PQ2/8/1P4P1/P6P/2R4K b - - 3 33

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