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

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks c1/c4; bishop e3; knight f3; pawns a4/d4/e5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks b8/c8; knights a8/e7; pawns a5/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen b7→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c4→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook b8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc8 (knight e7→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qe8# — queen b5→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: nrr3k1/1q2nppp/1p2p3/pQ2P3/P1RP1PP1/4BN2/7P/2R3K1 b - - 4 23

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