Chess Puzzle #7YZF2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks e3/f1; bishop d6; pawns b2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a2/e8; knight g6; pawns b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook e8→e3, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Bf8 — bishop d6→f8. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen c8→f8, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f7→f8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf8 (knight g6→f8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2q1r1k1/5ppp/2pB2n1/1p6/3P4/1Q2R3/rP4PP/5RK1 b - - 5 28

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