Chess Puzzle #154js — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rooks g1/g6; bishop c4; pawns a3/b2/c3/e4/h5. Black: king h7; queen h4; rooks e7/f2; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bg8+ — bishop c4→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook e7→h7).
4. Best move: Rxh7# — rook h6→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/ppp1r1pk/2np2RQ/4p2P/2B1P2q/P1P5/1P3r2/2K3R1 b - - 0 27

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