Chess Puzzle #1nion — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; queen g3; rooks d1/f1; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks d8/e4; knight f3; pawns a7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook d8→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen g3→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d1→d8).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen b8→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e4→e8).
4. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/p4ppp/8/7q/4r3/2P1NnQ1/PPK2P2/3R1R2 b - - 1 31

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