Chess Puzzle #KAeQJ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a4; queen h6; rooks e1/g1; bishop h3; pawns a3/c4/f2/h4. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks e8/f3; bishop e4; pawns a6/c7/d6/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen e5→b5, gives check. Opponent replies cxb5 (pawn c4→b5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe4+ — rook e8→e4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king a4→a5).
4. Best move: Rxa3# — rook f3→a3, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxa3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2p3p1/p2p3Q/4q3/K1P1b2P/P4r1B/5P2/4R1R1 w - - 2 30

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