Chess Puzzle #4ZE5v — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rook a8; knight g3; pawns b4/d4/e3/f2/g2. Black: king h7; queen h4; rook h6; bishop g4; pawns b5/c6/d5/e4/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf8 — queen c5→f8. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
3. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh1 (knight g3→h1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxh1# — rook h6→h1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, pillsburys mate, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: R7/6pk/2p4r/1pQp4/1P1Pp1bq/4P1N1/5PP1/6K1 w - - 3 30

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