Chess Puzzle #0ON8L — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f1; rook a1; bishops c1/e2; pawns a2/b2/c5/d2/g2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook a8; bishop h3; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/g3/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg4 — bishop h3→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop e2→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop g4→e6).
3. Best move: Bxe6+ — bishop c4→e6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Qf8# — queen f1→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn4k1/pp4pp/2p5/2P1p3/7q/6pb/PP1PB1P1/R1B2QK1 b - - 0 17

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