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

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; rook d1; bishops e6/f6; pawns d6/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queens b1/b6; rook a7; bishops d7/h6; pawns a3/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be7+ — bishop f6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
3. Best move: Qc3+ — queen c4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen b6→d4).
4. Best move: Qxd4# — queen c3→d4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxd4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/r2b3p/1q1PBBpb/8/2Q5/p5P1/5P2/1q1R3K b - - 0 36

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