Chess Puzzle #2Ec1q — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook e1; bishop f4; pawns c4/d5/f2/g5/h4. Black: king d8; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishop a1; knight b8; pawns b7/c5/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight b8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen e6→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook h8→e8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook e1→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pillsburys mate, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn1k3r/1p2p2p/4Q1p1/2pP2P1/2P2B1P/8/q4P2/b3R1K1 b - - 3 23

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