Chess Puzzle #9PvvU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks d1/d3; bishop g5; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c5; rook c2; knights d7/f6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen c5→b4, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d3→d7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e7→f8).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king f8→e8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, master, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, very long. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/3nkppp/p3pn2/1pq3B1/1Q6/3R4/P1r2PPP/3R2K1 b - - 3 24

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