Chess Puzzle #1wciu — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks b1/b8; bishop c5; knight e7; pawns f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; rooks a2/f8; bishop g7; knight c4; pawns a7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd2 — knight c4→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook b8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop g7→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bd4+ — bishop c5→d4, gives check. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
4. Best move: Bxf6+ — bishop d4→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop f8→g7).
5. Best move: Rb8# — rook b1→b8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rb8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1R3r1k/p3Npbp/6p1/2B5/2n5/7P/r4PP1/1R4K1 b - - 1 28

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