Chess Puzzle #16762 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks d1/f3; bishop g2; pawns a2/b2/c4. Black: king h8; queen g3; rooks b8/f8; pawns g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook f8→f3, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook b8→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f3→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen d8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/4Q1pp/8/8/2P5/5Rq1/PP4B1/3R2K1 b - - 0 31

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