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

Position

White: king f3; queen e5; rooks h1/h2; pawns b2/c3/d4/f4/f6. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a7/a8; pawns c4/d5/e6/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen e7→f6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf6 — queen e5→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: R1h7# — rook h1→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with R1h7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/r3q1p1/4pPp1/3pQ3/2pP1P2/2P2K2/1P5R/7R b - - 0 41

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