Chess Puzzle #15uBQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks e3/f2; pawns a4/b3/d3/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c2/f8; knight h5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook c2→c1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f2→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp3ppp/8/q6n/P7/1P1PRQPP/2r2R1K/8 b - - 2 27

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