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

Position

White: king d2; queen h6; rooks e1/f1; bishops d3/e3; pawns b4/c3/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/f8; bishops a5/c8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb4 — pawn c5→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bh6+ — bishop e3→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp3p1p/3p2pQ/b1pP4/1P6/q1PBB3/3K2PP/4RR2 b - - 1 22

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