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

Position

White: king h1; queen g2; rooks a7/f1; bishop e3; knight c7; pawns b2/b3/c2/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks f5/g6; pawns b7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen g2→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rh5+ — rook f5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen e4→h4).
4. Best move: Rxh4# — rook h5→h4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/RpN3p1/6rp/5r1q/8/1P2B3/1PP2PQP/5R1K w - - 2 26

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