Chess Puzzle #8BP46 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b4; queen g8; bishop h2; pawns a2/c2/d3/f5/g4/h3. Black: king d7; queen b6; knight b1; pawns a7/b7/d4/f6/g5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc4 — king b4→c4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Na3+ — knight b1→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd5 (king c4→d5).
3. Best move: Qc6+ — queen b6→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd4 (king d5→d4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Nxc2# — knight a3→c2, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Nxc2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6Q1/pp1k2p1/1q3p2/5Pp1/1K1p2P1/3P3P/P1P4B/1n6 w - - 16 38

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