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

Position

White: king h1; queen f4; rooks d1/f1; pawns a2/b3/d7/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks c7/d8; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rcxd7 — rook c7→d7, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook d7→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, 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

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

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/1prP1ppp/p1q1p3/4P3/5Q2/1P6/P5PP/3R1R1K b - - 4 25

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