Chess Puzzle #492Ho — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d4; rooks d1/d2; bishop e2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/f2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks d8/g6; pawns a7/b6/e4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf1 — king g2→f1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen c8→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f1→e1).
3. Best move: Rg1+ — rook g6→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Bf1 (bishop e2→f1).
4. Best move: Qxf1# — queen h3→f1, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2qr2k1/p5pp/1p4r1/3N4/3Qp3/8/PP1RBPK1/3R4 w - - 1 31

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