Chess Puzzle #MKsiI — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g7; rook c1; bishop g6; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d6; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nb5+ — knight c3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: dxe5# — pawn d4→e5, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with dxe5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/1p1b2Q1/p1nkp1Bp/3p4/3P4/P1N2N2/1P3PPP/2R3K1 b - - 0 20

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