Chess Puzzle #0vyek — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c6; rooks a1/h1; bishop h4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d3/e3/f2/h2. Black: king f7; rooks c7/c8; bishop e6; knight f4; pawns a7/e5/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 10 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa6 — queen c6→a6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rc1+ — rook c7→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook a1→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ne1 (knight f3→e1).
4. Best move: Bh3+ — bishop e6→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
5. Best move: Rxe1# — rook c1→e1, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/p1r2kpp/2Q1bp2/4p3/5n1B/3PPN2/PP3P1P/R4K1R w - - 0 21

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