Chess Puzzle #2J2T7 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; rooks a6/h1; bishops e3/e4; knight c4; pawns b5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; rooks d8/h8; bishop d7; knights d4/h5; pawns b6/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxb5 — bishop d7→b5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a6→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b8→c7).
3. Best move: Ra7+ — rook a8→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king c7→c8).
4. Best move: Nxb6+ — knight c4→b6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
5. Best move: Rb7# — rook a7→b7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, exposed king, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, opera mate, queenside attack, very long, Vuković’s mate. The combination ends with Rb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/3b2pp/Rp3p2/1P2p2n/2NnB3/4B3/5PPP/4K2R b K - 7 24

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