Chess Puzzle #CKx6C — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks d1/h5; bishop f3; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g3/h6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops b7/h8; knight g6; pawns a6/c4/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop b7→f3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h7+ — pawn h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Nf5+ — knight h4→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
4. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen d2→d6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen d8→d6, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rxd6# — rook d1→d6, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, epaulette mate, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rxd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rkb/1b3p2/p2p2nP/4p2R/2p4N/2P2BP1/PP1Q1P2/K2R4 b - - 3 27

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