Chess Puzzle #3x72y — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rook f1; bishop h6; pawns b4/c3/g2/g6/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks d5/e4; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg6 — queen c6→g6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen g3→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d5→d8).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen b8→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e4→e8).
4. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5p1p/p1q3PB/1p1r4/1P2r3/2Pn2Q1/6PP/5R1K b - - 0 28

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