Chess Puzzle #VXWby — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks c4/d6; knight c6; pawns a4/b4/c3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f5; rooks a8/f8; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/f6/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd6 — pawn c7→d6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke5 (king f5→e5).
3. Best move: f4+ — pawn f2→f4, gives check. Opponent replies gxf4 (pawn g5→f4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: gxf4# — pawn g3→f4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with gxf4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/p1p5/1pNRpp1p/5kp1/PPR5/2P3P1/5P1P/6K1 b - - 0 24

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