Chess Puzzle #2xyQO — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks g1/g5; bishop d2; pawns c4/d5/f2/h4. Black: king f8; queen b2; rook f3; bishop g7; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c5/c7/e4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg7 — rook g5→g7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight f4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
3. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f3→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king e2→e3).
4. Best move: Qd4# — queen b2→d4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qd4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/ppp3b1/8/2pP2R1/2P1pn1P/5r2/1q1B1P2/3QK1R1 w - - 6 36

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