Chess Puzzle #XE1cx — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g4; rooks d1/h7; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks a8/d8; knight d4; pawns a7/b6/c6/e6/f6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g4→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e7→d6).
4. Best move: Qe7# — queen f7→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r1k2/p1q2p1R/1pp1pp2/4N3/2Pn2Q1/8/PP3PP1/2KR4 b - - 0 22

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