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

Position

White: king g2; queen d7; bishop e7; pawns d4/f2/g4/h2. Black: king f5; queen c2; rook h8; pawns e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxg4 — king f5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d7→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen c2→f5).
3. Best move: Qe2+ — queen e6→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Qf3+ (queen f5→f3, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxf3# — queen e2→f3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/3QB2p/4p1p1/5k2/3P2P1/8/2q2PKP/8 b - - 0 27

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