Chess Puzzle #2e4C1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen h7; rook b1; bishop c1; pawns a3/b3/d3/d5/f2/f6/g5. Black: king f8; queen d7; rooks b8/c8; bishop g7; knight h3; pawns a6/b5/c5/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen d7→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen h7→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen g7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king d7→d8).
5. Best move: Qe7# — queen f7→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1rr2k2/3q1pbQ/p2p1P2/1ppPp1P1/8/PP1P3n/5P2/1RB1K3 b - - 0 26

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