Chess Puzzle #2LiTC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rooks g1/h5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/h3. Black: king h7; queen g6; rooks e6/e8; bishop h6; pawns a4/b5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen g6→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h5→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh6 (rook e6→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qf7+ — queen d5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
4. Best move: Qg7# — queen f7→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/7k/4r1qb/1p1Q3R/p2P4/2P4P/PP5K/6R1 b - - 4 34

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