Chess Puzzle #2Co2p — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks e1/e2; pawns a2/c3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen f5; rooks g7/g8; bishops b6/d5; pawns c4/c6/c7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen f5→f3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook g8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king b8→b7).
4. Best move: Qa8# — queen a4→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k4r1/2p2prp/1bp5/3b1q2/Q1p5/2P3P1/P3RP1P/4R1K1 b - - 2 23

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