Chess Puzzle #3g3wq — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c7; knights d2/g1; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/e2. Black: king e8; queen e3; rooks a8/h8; bishop b4; knight g4; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen b3→b4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf2+ — queen e3→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
3. Best move: Ne3+ — knight g4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king d1→c1).
4. Best move: Qe1# — queen f2→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1B2pp1/2p4p/8/1bP3n1/1Q1Pq3/PP1NP3/R3K1NR w KQkq - 0 15

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