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

Position

White: king h2; queen g6; rook c5; knights e6/g3; pawns a3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks b8/g8; bishops b1/g7; pawns d3/f5/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen e5→c5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng5 — knight e6→g5. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g6→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
4. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h5→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qxh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4rk/6b1/4N1Qp/2R1qp2/8/P2p2NP/5PPK/1b6 b - - 3 38

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