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

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks c1/f1; bishop g6; pawns a3/b3/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d8/e7; bishop f8; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen c7→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f2→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook d8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
5. Best move: Rxe8# — rook c8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1bk1/1pq1r1p1/p3p1Bp/3p4/8/PP2P3/5QPP/2R2RK1 b - - 3 28

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