Chess Puzzle #50roB — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks f1/f7; bishop h6; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks c3/f8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/d5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen h4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen d8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook f7→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, X-ray attack. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/p4Rbp/4p1pB/3pq3/7Q/2r5/P5PP/5R1K b - - 0 20

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