Chess Puzzle #Ikza9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g7; rook a1; bishop b2; pawns a2/b3/d5/f2/g3. Black: king g5; queen f3; rook e8; bishop d6; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/h3. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight f4→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bf6+ — bishop b2→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king g5→h5).
3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king h5→g4).
4. Best move: Qxg6# — queen h7→g6, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/pp4Q1/2pb4/3P1pk1/5n2/1P3qPp/PB3P1K/R7 b - - 5 35

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