Chess Puzzle #MNy8u — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/c4; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2. Black: king e8; queen g6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c5/c7/e5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf3 — king g2→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nd4+ — knight c6→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f3→e3).
3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen g6→g5, gives check. Opponent replies f4 (pawn f2→f4).
4. Best move: Qxf4# — queen g5→f4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/ppp2pp1/2n3qp/2p1p3/2B1P2N/3P1b2/PPP2PK1/R1BQ3R w kq - 6 15

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