Chess Puzzle #n2Pa0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook f1; knight h5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen a5; rook h8; bishop d7; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b7→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf3 — queen d3→f3. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e7→d6).
3. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f3→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d6→c7).
4. Best move: Qxh8 — queen f6→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Qf3.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pp1bk3/2p4p/q3p1pN/2nPP3/2PQ4/P5PP/5RK1 b - - 0 28

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