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

Position

White: king a1; queen h1; rook h8; knights d1/g5; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f4/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks e7/e8; bishop a5; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen h1→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
3. Best move: Rf8+ — rook h8→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook e7→f7).
5. Best move: Qxf7# — queen f8→f7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

collinear move, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1kR/1p2r3/p1p3p1/b2p1pN1/3P1P2/4P1P1/PPq3P1/K2N3Q b - - 20 34

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