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

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks c1/e1; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks d4/f8; pawns b5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d4→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen c5→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d2→d8).
4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook c8→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5ppp/8/1pQ5/3r4/8/q4PPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 1 23

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