Chess Puzzle #A60lq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a7/f1; bishop c3; pawns c5/d4/e5/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks b3/f8; pawns c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook b3→c3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Qb8 (queen b2→b8).
4. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook a8→b8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
5. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/R4ppp/2p1p3/2P1P1P1/3P3P/1rB2Q2/1q6/5RK1 b - - 0 33

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