Chess Puzzle #8cujW — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks d1/e2; bishops b2/h3; knight f3; pawns a4/b3/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e7; bishops c8/f6; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight d7→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c7→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/ppqnrppp/5b2/2pQp3/P1P5/1P3NPB/1B2RP1P/3R2K1 b - - 9 19

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