Chess Puzzle #1oO89 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks c1/e7; pawns c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b4; rooks a3/g8; pawns a6/b5/f4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook a3→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8 — rook e7→e8. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook g8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen b4→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/4RQpp/p7/1p6/1q3p2/r7/2P2PPP/2R3K1 b - - 3 29

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