Chess Puzzle #2NFwv — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; rooks d7/h7; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c4/e4/f2/g2/g3. Black: king f5; queen b6; rooks a8/g8; bishop c5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f6/g5. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg4 — king f5→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: f3+ — pawn f2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg3 (king g4→g3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Kf1 — king e1→f1. Opponent replies Qxb2 (queen b6→b2, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rh3+ — rook h7→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king g3→f4).
5. Best move: Nd5# — knight c3→d5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Nd5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r5r1/pppR3R/1q3p2/2b1pkp1/2P1P3/P1N3P1/1P3PP1/4K3 b - - 0 23

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