Chess Puzzle #RMheS — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks e7/f1; pawns b3/d5/g5/h3. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks c2/f8; knight f6; pawns b4/c5/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng8 — knight f6→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rfxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
4. Best move: Rh7# — rook f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/4Rpk1/3p1np1/2pP2P1/1p1q4/1P3Q1P/2r5/5R1K b - - 0 35

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