Chess Puzzle #HH9Q7 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks a1/e8; bishop b2; knight b1; pawns a2/b4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king b7; queen g5; rook a8; bishop c6; pawns a6/c7/d7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa8 — rook e8→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen g5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
3. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop c6→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen f7→c4).
4. Best move: Bxc4# — bishop b5→c4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Bxc4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3R3/1kpp1Qp1/p1b4p/6q1/1P6/5P2/PB4PP/RN4K1 w - - 2 22

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