Chess Puzzle #241af — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen f6; rooks d1/h1; knights e3/g5; pawns c2/d3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king d6; queen a3; rook a8; bishop e6; knight d4; pawns a5/c7/e5/f5/h6. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight g5→e6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb4+ — queen a3→b4, gives check. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c2→c3).
3. Best move: Qb2+ — queen b4→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Nc2 (knight e3→c2).
4. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen b2→c2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king d2→e3).
5. Best move: Qe2# — queen c2→e2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qe2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/2p5/3kbQ1p/p3ppN1/3n3P/q2PN3/2PK1PP1/3R3R w - - 1 27

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