Chess Puzzle #wPX39 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g5. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks c8/g8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/d5/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight f6→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g8→g7).
4. Best move: Rh1# — rook d1→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq2r1/p3bpkp/2p1pn2/3p2P1/3P1Q2/2N5/PPP2P2/2KR3R b - - 0 18

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