Chess Puzzle #8k0mL — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks b1/h2; bishop e3; knights g1/g3; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/e4/f3/h6. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a4/b3; bishops d7/h8; knight g8; pawns a6/c4/c5/d6/e7/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h7 — pawn h6→h7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Raxa3+ — rook a4→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies bxa3 (pawn b2→a3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxb1+ — rook b3→b1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ka2 (king a1→a2).
4. Best move: Qb3# — queen b6→b3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qb3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k1nb/3bpp2/pq1p2pP/2p5/r1pPP3/PrP1BPN1/1P1Q3R/KR4N1 w - - 1 23

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