Chess Puzzle #27stu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks f1/f3; bishops b3/h6; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks d6/f8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a5/b7/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nh7 (knight f6→h7).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop e7→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1p2b1p1/2qr1n1B/p7/8/1BP2R1Q/PP4PP/5RK1 b - - 0 25

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