Chess Puzzle #MQGZH — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f6; rooks e6/f1; pawns a2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e4; rooks a8/h7; bishop c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxe6 — pawn f7→e6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
3. Best move: Qd6+ — queen f8→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
4. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Be8 (bishop c6→e8).
5. Best move: Rxe8# — rook f8→e8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Rxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/pp3p1r/2b1RQ1p/4P1p1/4q3/8/P1P3PP/5R1K b q - 0 24

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