Chess Puzzle #8Zipc — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; rooks h1/h7; bishop e1; pawns d4/f3/f4. Black: king f6; rooks a8/e6; knight d5; pawns b4/c4/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra2 — rook a8→a2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bh4+ — bishop e1→h4, gives check. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g6→g5).
3. Best move: Bxg5+ — bishop h4→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f6→g6).
4. Best move: R1h6# — rook h1→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, opera mate. The combination ends with R1h6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r7/7R/4rkp1/3n1p2/1ppP1P2/5P2/8/3KB2R b - - 1 31

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