Chess Puzzle #0GDxs — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d1/d5; pawns b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook b8; bishop f6; knight g6; pawns a6/b7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight g6→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook b8→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop f6→d8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qe8# — queen e2→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Qe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/1p4pp/p4bn1/3R4/8/2P5/qP2QPPP/3R2K1 b - - 1 26

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