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

Position

White: king h1; queen c6; rook f1; bishop h3; pawns b2/d4/e5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rook b8; bishop c8; pawns a7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen b4→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen c6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Rf8 — rook f1→f8. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen d4→d1, gives check).
4. Best move: Bf1 — bishop h3→f1.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: 1rb3k1/p5p1/2Q1p2p/3pP3/1q1P4/6PB/1P5P/5R1K b - - 1 36

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