Chess Puzzle #4bOpV — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rooks d1/f2; bishop e4; pawns a4/b2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks c8/f8; knight b4; pawns a5/b6/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc4 — rook c8→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f2→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/5pp1/1p2p3/p3q3/Pn2B1P1/5Q1P/1P3RK1/3R4 b - - 7 29

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