Chess Puzzle #Zc1El — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishops a3/e6; knight f7; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen a5→a3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight e5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
5. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h3→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp1n1Nbp/4B1p1/q1p5/3P4/B1P2Q2/P1P2PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 0 12

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