Chess Puzzle #LX8p8 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen h2; rooks b1/h7; knights c3/g5; pawns b2/c4/e5/g4. Black: king g8; queen b3; rooks b8/f1; bishop d7; knight g6; pawns a4/c5/e6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb1 — rook f1→b1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rg7+ — rook h7→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Rg8+ — rook g7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king f8→g8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
5. Best move: Qf7# — queen h7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, exposed king, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/3b3R/4p1n1/2p1P1N1/p1P3P1/1qN5/1P1K3Q/1R3r2 b - - 6 38

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