Chess Puzzle #BL2up — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen c5; rook a7; bishop g5; knight f3; pawns c2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen f1; rooks e2/h8; knights d5/f6; pawns f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight d5→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
3. Best move: Bxe7+ — bishop g5→e7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e2→e7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook a8→e8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king f8→e8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qc8# — queen c5→c8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/R4ppp/5n2/2Qn2B1/8/5N1P/2P1r1PK/5q2 b - - 4 22

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