Chess Puzzle #SwN8s — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; rooks c2/c4; pawns a2/b3/g2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen b5; rooks a8/d8; knight d4; pawns a7/b6/e5/f6/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight d4→c2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen g4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Rh4 — rook c4→h4. Opponent replies e4 (pawn e5→e4).
4. Best move: Rh8# — rook h4→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, quiet move. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/p5p1/1p3pp1/1q2p3/2Rn2Q1/1P4PP/P1R3PK/8 b - - 4 36

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