Chess Puzzle #1pUgz — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks f1/g3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks e5/f8; knight g6; pawns a5/b6/c5/d4/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re6 — rook e5→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g3→g6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Rf7# — rook f1→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5p2/1p3Qn1/p1pqr3/3p4/P2P2R1/1PP5/5RK1 b - - 3 38

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