Chess Puzzle #8Lxv8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; rooks e1/h7; bishop e6; pawns b2/c3/e4/f5. Black: king f8; rooks a8/e8; bishop c6; knight c8; pawns a5/b5/b7/d6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
3. Best move: Rg8+ — rook h8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
4. Best move: e5+ — pawn e4→e5, gives check. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d6→e5, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Rg6# — rook g8→g6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rg6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1n1rk2/1p5R/2bpB3/pp3P2/4P3/2P5/1P1K4/4R3 b - - 1 29

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