Chess Puzzle #4OmCQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook b6; bishop h6; pawns c4/d3/e2/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen h3; rook b8; knight e5; pawns f6/f7/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb6 — rook b8→b6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook b6→b8).
3. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen a8→b8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qc8 (queen h3→c8).
4. Best move: Qxc8# — queen b8→c8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/5p1p/QR3p1B/4n1p1/2P5/3P2Pq/4PP2/6K1 b - - 2 29

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