Chess Puzzle #1ATP1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks f1/f7; bishop g2; pawns a2/b3/e4/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks b8/e8; bishop f8; pawns a6/b7/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg6 — queen c6→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f7→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook b8→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r2rb1k/1p3Rpp/p1q5/4p3/4P3/1P3QPP/P5BK/5R2 b - - 1 28

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