Chess Puzzle #556aP — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rook d2; knight e6; pawns a2/f5/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen c6; rook a8; bishop h3; knight a5; pawns a7/b7/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g7→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook a8→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen c6→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/pp4kp/2q1Np2/n2Q1P2/8/6Pb/P2R3P/6K1 b - - 2 28

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