Chess Puzzle #5ANdI — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e3; queen g5; rook h7; bishops f1/f6; knights e2/g1; pawns c2/f3/g4. Black: king g8; queen d1; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight b2; pawns a7/b4/d6/e4/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen g5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Qg7+ — queen h8→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
5. Best move: Qe7# — queen g7→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p6R/3pbBp1/4p1Q1/1p2p1P1/4KP2/1nP1N3/3q1BN1 b - - 1 22

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