Chess Puzzle #EcUi9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen e6; rooks b1/b3; knight g3; pawns c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen a2; rooks d8/h8; bishop g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d3/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b3→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
3. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b7→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook d8→b8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qc6+ — queen e6→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Rb7 (rook b8→b7).
5. Best move: Qxb7# — queen c6→b7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp3pp/4Q1b1/3p4/8/1R1p2NP/q1PK1PP1/1R6 b - - 1 21

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