Chess Puzzle #15Law — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g6; rook f1; bishop e3; knight h4; pawns b2/c3/g2. Black: king h8; queen e5; rook a8; bishop h2; pawns b5/c4/c5/d3. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf5 — rook f1→f5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Bc1 (bishop e3→c1).
3. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook a1→c1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f5→f1).
4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook c1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/8/6Q1/1pp1q3/2p4N/2PpB3/1P4Pb/5R1K w - - 1 26

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