Chess Puzzle #4EUrk — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h1; rook h7; bishop a2; knights f3/f5; pawns a3/b2/c2/e3/e4/g2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks d8/f8; bishop f6; knight g5; pawns a7/b5/c4/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight f3→g5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd2+ — queen d7→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
3. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d2→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd1 (queen h1→d1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d8→d1, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, master, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxd1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p2q1p1R/5b2/1p2pNn1/2p1P3/P3PN2/BPP3P1/2K4Q w - - 1 30

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