Chess Puzzle #17ouS — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f4; rooks e1/e4; pawns a2/c4/d4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook a8; bishop d5; knight d7; pawns a7/c6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc4 — bishop d5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen f4→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p2n2pp/2p5/3b4/2PPRQPq/7P/P5K1/4R3 b - - 0 28

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