Chess Puzzle #52cB1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks e5/f1; pawns d5/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks b2/f8; pawns b3/c4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa6 — queen c6→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5ppp/2q5/3PR2Q/2p5/1p4P1/1r5P/5R1K b - - 0 35

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