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

Position

White: king c1; queen d7; rook e1; bishop h3; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/g3. Black: king c8; queen c5; rooks f6/h8; bishop b7; knight a6; pawns a7/b6/c7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen d7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bc8 (bishop b7→c8).
4. Best move: Qxc8# — queen e8→c8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/pbpQ4/np3r2/2q5/8/P1NP2PB/1PP5/2K1R3 b - - 0 21

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