Chess Puzzle #9kdfH — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen g6; rooks a1/h7; bishop b5; pawns d4/f2/g5. Black: king d6; queen e8; rooks c7/f8; knight d7; pawns d5/e6/f5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg6 — queen e8→g6, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra6+ — rook a1→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Nb6 (knight d7→b6).
3. Best move: Rxb6+ — rook a6→b6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rc6 (rook c7→c6).
4. Best move: Rxc6# — rook b6→c6, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, opera mate. The combination ends with Rxc6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4qr2/2rn3R/3kp1Q1/1B1p1pP1/3P4/8/5PK1/R7 b - - 8 36

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