Chess Puzzle #AaqN9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen a8; rook d6; knight d4; pawns a3/b2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f2; rook c2; knight f8; pawns b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook c2→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen a8→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Nc6# — knight d4→c6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Nc6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q4nk1/5ppp/3Rp3/1p2P3/3N4/P6P/1Pr2qPK/8 b - - 3 32

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