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

Position

White: king f2; rook e2; bishop c7; pawns b6/c4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d3; pawns a6/d4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen d3→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b7 — pawn b6→b7. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen c4→c7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: b8=Q — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Qxb8 (queen c7→b8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rxb8 — rook e8→b8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, sacrifice, very long. The key move is b7.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2B2p1p/pP4p1/8/2Pp4/3q3P/4RKP1/8 b - - 1 31

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