Chess Puzzle #4el1O — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen a6; rooks d1/d8; knight b5; pawns a3/b4/h2. Black: king b8; queen g2; rook h8; bishop c3; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook h8→d8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd8 (knight c6→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a6→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
4. Best move: Qxc7# — queen a7→c7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, queenside attack. The combination ends with Qxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1R3r/p1p2ppp/Qpn1p3/1N6/1P6/P1b5/6qP/1K1R4 b - - 1 23

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