Chess Puzzle #i8ZW9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; knight e7; pawns a3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c4; bishop a6; knight e6; pawns a4/b5/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king g8→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Ng7 (knight e6→g7).
3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen f7→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4N3/b3n1pp/1p6/p1q5/P4Q1P/5PPK/8 b - - 3 33

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