Chess Puzzle #2NCz5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks d1/e1; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c3; rooks b2/d8; pawns c5/d6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen c3→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen f6→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: 3r3k/5Qpp/3p4/2p5/8/2q5/Pr3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 1 23

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