Chess Puzzle #5Apap — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen c3; rooks d1/f1; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f3/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/g6; pawns c6/f7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d1→d2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxg3+ — queen c7→g3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
3. Best move: Qh3+ — queen g3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Rh2 (rook d2→h2).
4. Best move: Qxf1# — queen h3→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/2q2p2/2p3r1/8/4P2P/P1Q2PP1/1PP4K/3R1R2 w - - 3 31

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