Chess Puzzle #0rcU4 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks c4/d7; knight e5; pawns a2/e3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks b2/f8; pawns e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rcc7 — rook c4→c7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4 — queen f6→h4. Opponent replies Nd3 (knight e5→d3).
3. Best move: Rb1+ — rook b2→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Rc1 (rook c7→c1).
4. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook b1→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc1 (knight d3→c1, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qe1# — queen h4→e1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/Q2R1pp1/4pq1p/4N3/2R2P2/4P3/Pr4PP/6K1 w - - 0 23

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