Chess Puzzle #1VxTn — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; rooks a1/f1; bishop g3; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rook d6; bishops c5/c6; knight e4; pawns b6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook f1→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxg3+ — knight e4→g3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rh6+ — rook d6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Rh5 (rook f5→h5).
4. Best move: Rxh5# — rook h6→h5, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6pp/1pbr4/2b1Np2/4n3/2N3B1/PP4PP/R4R1K w - - 2 26

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