Chess Puzzle #5jIyF — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; bishop a4; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen d4→a4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen a4→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
5. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p3ppp/p3p3/8/B2q4/5Q2/P5PP/3R1R1K b - - 3 21

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