Chess Puzzle #44Lhj — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d2; rooks c7/c8; bishop d6; knight f6; pawns b4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g6; queen b6; rooks a3/d8; pawns b7/d3/e6/f4/g3. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook c8→d8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a3→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Rc1 (rook c7→c1).
3. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook a1→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen d2→c1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qf2# — queen b6→f2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qf2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2Rr4/1pR5/1q1BpNk1/4P3/1P3p2/r2p2pP/3Q2P1/5K2 w - - 2 37

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