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

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks f1/f4; bishop b1; pawns a2/e3/e5/g2/h4. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/b2; knight f8; pawns a6/c4/c5/d3/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rab8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f4→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook b8→f8, captures rook).
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: r2q1n1k/5Qpp/p3p3/2p1P3/2p2R1P/3pP3/Pr4P1/1B3RK1 b - - 3 27

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