Chess Puzzle #1qb6W — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen h4; rooks g1/h1; bishop b2; pawns b3/c2/c3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a1/a8; bishop g7; knight c6; pawns b7/c7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxa1 — bishop b2→a1, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxa1+ — rook a8→a1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa1 (king b1→a1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen e5→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
4. Best move: Qb2# — queen c3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1pp3b1/2n5/4q3/7Q/1PP5/1BP5/rK4RR w - - 8 31

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