Chess Puzzle #4ZsEa — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rook e1; knight f6; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rook c8; pawns a6/b5/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen d8→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→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: 2rq3k/5Qpp/p4N2/1p1p4/1P6/P6P/5PP1/4R2K b - - 0 28

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