Chess Puzzle #9rL4f — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rook e6; bishop f4; pawns a2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks c8/f7; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook c8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh6+ — rook e6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook f7→h7).
3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h6→h7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qh6# — queen g5→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/pp1qpr2/3pR3/3P1pQ1/5B2/8/P4PPP/6K1 b - - 4 25

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