Chess Puzzle #4K8Tx — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook h1; bishops a3/e2; pawns a2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen c2; rooks a8/h8; bishop h3; pawns a7/c6/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king e8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e3→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
3. Best move: Ba6+ — bishop e2→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
4. Best move: Qb4# — queen e7→b4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qb4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1p2ppp/2p5/3p4/8/B3Q1Pb/P1q1BP1P/6KR b kq - 1 17

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