Chess Puzzle #2L3ID — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rook f1; knight c7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d6/g4/h2. Black: king g7; queen c6; rooks c8/h8; pawns a6/a7/d5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rhf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight c7→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/p1N3kp/p1qP2p1/3p4/6P1/5Q2/PPP4P/2K2R2 b - - 3 28

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