Chess Puzzle #DCrRP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen g3; bishop h7; knights d2/e7; pawns a2/f2. Black: king h8; queen d4; rook f8; bishops d7/g7; pawns a7/b7/e6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen g3→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pp1bN1bB/4p3/8/3q4/6Q1/P2NKP2/8 b - - 0 23

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