Chess Puzzle #CJ02K — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rook c6; knights e7/g5; pawns a2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook a8→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c6→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight f6→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook c8→e8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/4Nppp/2R1pn2/1p4N1/4P3/3P4/P4PPP/6K1 b - - 0 19

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