Chess Puzzle #3ngVm — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks c1/c8; knight f3; pawns e5/f2/g3. Black: king f8; queen g6; rook a8; bishops e6/e7; pawns b4/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook a8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop e6→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen b7→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Bd8 (bishop e7→d8).
4. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1R2k2/1Q2bpp1/4b1qp/4P3/1p6/5NP1/5P2/2R3K1 b - - 0 36

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