Chess Puzzle #4rxhz — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; queen h5; rooks d4/h3; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e1; rooks d7/d8; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd5 — rook d7→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh6 (knight g8→h6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h3→h6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
4. Best move: Rg4+ — rook d4→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
5. Best move: Rh8# — rook h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2nk/pppr1p2/5p1p/3P1N1Q/3R4/7R/PPK2PPP/4q3 b - - 3 25

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