Chess Puzzle #4kJD7 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h5; rooks d1/g1; bishop f1; knights b1/f6; pawns b3/c2/d4/e3/f3/h2. Black: king g7; queen a1; rooks a8/f8; bishop b6; pawns a6/b4/c3/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook d1→e1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb2+ — queen a1→b2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king c1→d1).
3. Best move: Qxb1+ — queen b2→b1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king d1→e2).
4. Best move: Qxc2# — queen b1→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, epaulette mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/5pkp/pb2pNp1/3p3Q/1p1P4/1Pp1PP2/2P4P/qNKR1BR1 w - - 2 26

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