Chess Puzzle #10sdq — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook e1; knight f6; pawns a3/b4/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/e7; bishop f7; pawns a6/b5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd8 — king e8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Be8 (bishop f7→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen h8→e8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook e7→e8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/2q1rb2/p4N2/1p5Q/1P6/P5P1/7P/4R2K b - - 3 44

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