Chess Puzzle #8CEGt — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen c7; rook c3; pawns a2/d4/f3/g5. Black: king e7; queen b1; rook h1; pawns a6/e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king e7→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen c7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
3. Best move: Qf6+ — queen d8→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
4. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c3→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
5. Best move: Qxf7# — queen f6→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/2Q1kp2/p3p1p1/6P1/3P4/2R2P2/P2K4/1q5r b - - 0 50

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