Chess Puzzle #9WAlo — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rook e1; bishop b3; knights d1/e6; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen a5; rooks d6/h8; bishop f8; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen e3→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd2+ — queen a5→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
3. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen d2→d1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook e1→d1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxd1# — rook d6→d1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1k3b1r/ppp1p1p1/3rN2p/q3n3/8/1B2Q3/PPP3PP/2KNR3 w - - 2 20

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