Chess Puzzle #9xeQ1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rook e7; bishop c4; pawns a2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rook a8; bishops f5/g7; pawns a7/c6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen c5→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/p3RQbp/2p3p1/2q2b2/2B5/8/P1P3PP/7K b - - 1 26

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