Chess Puzzle #1oQ9a — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen h3; rooks h1/h5; bishop b2; pawns b3/c4/f2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks a2/f8; bishop f4; pawns c6/c7/d6/e5/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxa2 — king a1→a2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook f8→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Ba3 (bishop b2→a3).
3. Best move: Qc2+ — queen e4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king a2→a1).
4. Best move: Rxa3# — rook a8→a3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rxa3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2p3p1/2pp1p2/4p2R/2P1qb2/1P5Q/rB3P2/K6R w - - 0 25

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