Chess Puzzle #3VVf6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks d1/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks d2/e8; bishop f2; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d2→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd1 (knight c3→d1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
4. Best move: Qxf1# — queen c4→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p1Q2ppp/2p5/8/2q5/2N5/PPPr1bPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 23

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