Chess Puzzle #2juGP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; queen h4; rook d6; knight g5; pawns a3/b2/d3/e5/g4. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks a8/f8; pawns a5/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook d6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
4. Best move: Qh7# — queen h6→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/1p3ppp/2pR4/p3P1N1/5qPQ/P2P4/1PK5/8 b - - 1 27

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