Chess Puzzle #EZAbT — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; bishop h6; knight c3; pawns b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook a5; pawns b4/c7/d6/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen f3→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Rg5 (rook a5→g5).
3. Best move: Qc8+ — queen g4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen e7→d8).
4. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2p1qp1p/3p1p1B/r7/1p6/2N2Q1P/1P3PP1/6K1 b - - 1 20

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