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

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks e1/e3; pawns a3/b4/f5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks d8/e8; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight e7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d7→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp1qnppp/8/4QP2/1P4P1/P3R3/7P/4R1K1 b - - 2 39

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