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

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishop a3; pawns a2/c3/e5/f4/g2/g6. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks d8/f8; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/b7/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h1→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e2→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
5. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp2n1p1/2n1p1P1/3qP3/5P2/B1P5/P3Q1P1/R3K2R b KQ - 4 23

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