Chess Puzzle #1jU4F — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f6; rooks b1/b3; bishop g5; pawns a2/f2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c4; rooks g8/h8; bishops c6/d6; knight e5; pawns a7/d7/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg5 — rook g8→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen f6→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g5→g8).
3. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen h8→g8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop d6→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen g8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c8→c7).
5. Best move: Qb8# — queen f8→b8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

hanging piece, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k3rr/p2p1p1p/2bbpQ2/4n1B1/2q5/1R6/P4P1P/1R2K3 b - - 1 25

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