Chess Puzzle #F7kU7 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; pawns a2/c2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks f8/g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen c4→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen c6→e8).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
5. Best move: Rfxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rfxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppp2ppp/6r1/8/2q5/2P2Q1P/P1P3P1/3R1R1K b - - 2 20

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