Chess Puzzle #0pZGT — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook f1; bishop d3; knight d5; pawns d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks d8/f8; knight e5; pawns a6/b6/f6/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d8→d6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen f4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh6 (queen g7→h6).
4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h4→h6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, master, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/5pq1/pp1P1p2/3Nn3/5Q2/3B4/5PPP/5RK1 b - - 3 31

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