Chess Puzzle #IV8AP — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks d7/f1; knight e4; pawns a2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e1; rooks e2/f8; bishop h6; pawns a7/c5/d4/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen e1→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e2→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
4. Best move: Be3+ — bishop h6→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
5. Best move: Rxf1# — rook e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, clearance, deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pQ1R1p1p/6pb/2p5/3pN3/3P4/P1P1rPPP/4qRK1 w - - 2 22

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