Chess Puzzle #9IzbU — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; rook a1; bishop h3; knights c3/g3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/h4. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f1; bishops a6/c5; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/e5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen g5→e7, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h2→g2).
3. Best move: Rf2+ — rook f1→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
4. Best move: Rh2# — rook f2→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

arabian mate, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Rh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/pp2qp1p/b1pp4/2b1p1Q1/3nP2P/2NP2NB/PPP4K/R4r2 w - - 0 23

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