Chess Puzzle #JCQnP — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook d1; bishop f7; pawns a2/b3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks c8/e3; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e3→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4+ — queen f2→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Re5 (rook e7→e5).
3. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen d4→e5, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen c6→f6).
4. Best move: Qxf6# — queen e5→f6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/pb3B1p/1pq3p1/8/8/1P2r3/P4QPP/3R2K1 b - - 2 25

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