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

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rook d1; pawns a3/c5/f3/h2. Black: king e5; queen f2; rook e7; pawns e4/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke6 — king e5→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd6+ — rook d1→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king e6→f7).
3. Best move: Qf6+ — queen c3→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
4. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
5. Best move: Rxe8# — rook d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/4r2p/6p1/2P1kp2/4p3/P1Q2P2/5q1P/3R3K b - - 5 54

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