Chess Puzzle #0Gro1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook c1; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook a8; knight e4; pawns a7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen f5→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen d7→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen e5→e8).
4. Best move: Qxe8# — queen c8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p2Q1ppp/8/3pNq2/4n3/5P2/PP4PP/2R3K1 b - - 0 22

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