Chess Puzzle #3Hj63 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen h5; rooks d1/h1; pawns e5/f2/g6/h3. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/d4/e6/f3/g7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen h8→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
5. Best move: Qf7# — queen g7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp4p1/n3p1P1/4P2Q/3p4/2q2p1P/5P2/3R1K1R b - - 0 27

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