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

Position

White: king h1; rooks a1/d3; bishops c1/c4; knights f7/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/g4. Black: king h7; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg5+ — knight f7→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Rh3+ — rook d3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
4. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h3→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
5. Best move: Rh7# — rook h6→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/pp2pNbk/1qp3pp/2n1P1N1/2B3P1/3R4/PPP3P1/R1B4K b - - 4 20

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