Chess Puzzle #255ZY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen d1; bishop b3; pawns a2/c3/f5. Black: king h8; rooks b2/h2; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rbg2 — rook b2→g2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen d8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
4. Best move: Qg6# — queen g8→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/ppp5/5p2/4pP2/6n1/1BP5/Pr5r/K2Q4 b - - 1 33

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