Chess Puzzle #1hLR2 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks a1/e6; knight f3; pawns c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; knight h4; pawns a5/c7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f7→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qf1+ — queen f2→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf1 (rook a1→f1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf1# — rook f8→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/2p2qp1/2Q1R2p/p7/7n/2P2N2/5PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 24

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