Chess Puzzle #10BAh — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c4; rook f1; knight f5; pawns b4/f6/g4. Black: king g6; rooks a2/d8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g6→h7).
3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook f1→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Rh2 (rook a2→h2).
4. Best move: Rxh2# — rook h1→h2, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rxh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/pp3p2/5Pk1/5Np1/1PK3P1/8/r7/5R2 b - - 2 35

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