Chess Puzzle #2wdH6 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; rooks b7/f1; knight d5; pawns c4/e4/g2. Black: king h7; rooks a6/d3; bishop g6; knight g5; pawns d6/e5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Raa3 — rook a6→a3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b7→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Be8 (bishop g6→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8# — rook b8→e8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1R4pk/r2p1pbp/3Np1n1/2P1P3/3r4/6PK/5R2 b - - 1 43

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