Chess Puzzle #MZAQB — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e7; rook a1; knight d5; pawns b2/c4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook f8; knight c5; pawns b6/b7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen g6→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen e7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a1→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Qc8 (queen f5→c8).
4. Best move: Rxc8# — rook a8→c8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p2Qppp/1p4q1/2nN4/2P5/5P2/1P3P1P/R6K b - - 4 27

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