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

Position

White: king f3; queen f5; rooks d4/g2; pawns b2/f2. Black: king h8; queen h2; rook e8; bishop e5; pawns b4/c4/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh6 — queen h2→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen f5→e5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook e8→e5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e5→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen h6→f8).
5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/5p1p/8/4bQ2/1ppR4/5K2/1P3PRq/8 b - - 4 36

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