Chess Puzzle #1J2E9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rook e1; bishops b3/g5; pawns b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a8; rook e8; bishops f3/f8; knight f6; pawns c5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop g5→c1).
3. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen a1→c1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e8→e1).
4. Best move: Qxe1# — queen c1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: q3rb1k/5Qpp/5n2/2p3B1/8/1B3b2/1PP2PPP/4R1K1 w - - 1 23

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