Chess Puzzle #3bXuo — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g3; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishops c2/e3; knights d2/d6; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f3; bishop c6; pawns a4/c7/e5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh2 — king g3→h2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen d8→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen h4→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rh3+ — rook f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
5. Best move: Rh1# — rook h3→h1, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, discovered check, double check, exposed king, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, opera mate, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q2k1/2p3pp/2bNp3/4p3/p6P/2PQBrK1/PPBN1P2/R6R w - - 1 23

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