Chess Puzzle #1GRJ5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e3; rook g1; bishop d1; pawns d5/f2/f5/h3. Black: king h8; queen e4; rook a1; knight h7; pawns b4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen e4→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e3→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight h7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen e8→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
4. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f8→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/5ppn/7p/3P1P2/1p2q3/4Q2P/5P2/r2BK1R1 b - - 1 27

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