Chess Puzzle #EmmEo — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen h4; knights d2/f6; pawns a2/b2/c4/e5/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knights c6/g1; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 14 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king h8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h7→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Nd5# — knight f6→d5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Nd5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1bqr2k/pppp1p1p/2n2N2/4P3/2P4Q/8/PP1N1K1P/6n1 b - - 3 20

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