Chess Puzzle #rQ3VX — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/h4; bishop c4; knight e7; pawns a2/b2/d6/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e6; rooks a8/f6; bishops c8/g7; pawns a6/b7/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen e6→d6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bg8+ — bishop c4→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
4. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
5. Best move: Qxh6# — queen h4→h6, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/1p2N1bp/p2Pqrp1/5p2/2BQ3R/8/PP4PP/R5K1 b - - 5 23

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