Chess Puzzle #1otAS — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b2; queen a4; bishop a6; knight d2; pawns a3/b4/e5/f4/g2. Black: king b8; queen g1; rook g6; bishops b7/e7; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/f5. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg2 — rook g6→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen a4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bd8 (bishop e7→d8).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e8→d8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Bc8 (bishop b7→c8).
4. Best move: Qxc8# — queen d8→c8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/pbp1b3/Bp4r1/3pPp2/QP3P2/P7/1K1N2P1/6q1 b - - 1 31

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