Chess Puzzle #7NWCB — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; rook b1; bishops d2/f3; pawns b6/c2/d3/e4/g4. Black: king g6; rook b7; bishops c8/e5; pawns d4/d6/f6/h4/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh4 — king h3→h4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxg4 (bishop f3→g4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rh7+ — rook b7→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop d2→h6).
4. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h7→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Bh5+ (bishop g4→h5, gives check).
5. Best move: Rxh5# — rook h6→h5, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Rxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2b5/1r6/1P1p1pk1/4b2p/3pP1Pp/3P1B1K/2PB4/1R6 w - - 0 35

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