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

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook f7; knights e4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rook a8; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h5→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nf3+ (knight e5→f3, gives check).
3. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
5. Best move: Rh7# — rook f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

arabian mate, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3qbk1/ppp2Rp1/2npp2p/6NQ/4N3/3P4/PPP3PP/6K1 b - - 1 17

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