Chess Puzzle #LUUnC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c8; rooks a1/f1; bishop a3; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b3/d3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks h5/h8; bishop f8; knights a6/g4; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh2 — knight g4→h2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen c8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Qxf7# — queen f8→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, long, master, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2Q2bkr/p4pp1/n1p4p/7r/4N1n1/BP1P1NPq/P4P1P/R4RK1 b - - 4 22

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