Chess Puzzle #2p5ao — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a7; rooks f1/g1; pawns g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks e2/e8; knight c3; pawns f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg3 — queen f4→g3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen a7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/Q4ppp/8/8/5q2/2n4P/4r1P1/5RRK b - - 3 33

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