Chess Puzzle #AL2lV — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; rooks e1/f2; bishops c2/e3; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king c8; rooks h7/h8; bishop f3; pawns a4/b5/c4/f5. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook f2→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h7→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
3. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
4. Best move: R8h2# — rook h8→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with R8h2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/7r/8/1p1N1p2/p1p2P2/P3BbP1/1PB2R1P/4R2K w - - 1 31

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