Chess Puzzle #LocJa — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rooks c1/f1; bishops f6/h3; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a3; rooks c7/f8; bishops c6/d6; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd7 — bishop c6→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen f5→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook c7→d7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d7→d8).
4. Best move: Rxd8# — rook c8→d8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, opera mate, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4kr2/1pr2p2/p1bb1B2/4pQ2/8/q6B/P5PP/2R2R1K b - - 0 25

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