Chess Puzzle #Gfe5B — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks a1/g2; bishop f2; knights c3/d2; pawns a3/b2/c4/d5/e4/h4. Black: king f7; queen h6; rooks g8/h8; bishop g7; knights c5/f6; pawns a4/b6/c7/d6/e5/f4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rag1 — rook a1→g1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh4+ — queen h6→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh4 (bishop f2→h4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook h8→h4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qh3 (queen f3→h3).
4. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h4→h3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king h2→h3, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rh8# — rook g8→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, exposed king, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rr/2p2kb1/1p1p1n1q/2nPp3/p1P1Pp1P/P1N2Q2/1P1N1BRK/R7 w - - 2 29

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