Chess Puzzle #rej23 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rooks a4/f1; knight e2; pawns b2/d3/f6/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; knight c6; pawns a5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen d8→d3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6 — queen f4→h6. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook f8→g8).
3. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rh4# — rook a4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1r1k/5p1p/2n2Pp1/p7/R4Q2/3P4/1P2N1PP/5R1K b - - 0 26

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