Chess Puzzle #DC32S — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen a4; rooks f1/g3; bishop e4; pawns c3/c4/d4/e3/f3/h3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/f8; knight h4; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a4→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa7 (king b8→a7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ra1+ — rook f1→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Qa3 (queen e7→a3).
4. Best move: Rxa3+ — rook a1→a3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a7→b8).
5. Best move: Ra8# — rook a3→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, opera mate, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Ra8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1r2/p1ppq2p/1p2p1p1/8/Q1PPB2n/2P1PPRP/3K4/5R2 b - - 5 23

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