Chess Puzzle #8KKFW — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops e4/e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/h4/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop e4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Bg8+ — bishop h7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king f7→g8, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qg6+ — queen c2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop f8→g7).
5. Best move: Qxg7# — queen g6→g7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, exposed king, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqrbk1/ppp4p/2n1p3/3nB3/3PB2p/2P3P1/PPQ2P1P/R3R1K1 b - - 1 17

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