Chess Puzzle #MZt8d — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d5; rooks g1/h3; bishops d3/f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f5/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks c8/g8; bishop e7; knight g4; pawns a6/b4/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf2 — knight g4→f2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: f6+ — pawn f5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd3+ (knight f2→d3, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxd3+ — queen d5→d3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
5. Best move: Qh3# — queen d3→h3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3rk/2q1bppp/p2p4/3Q1P2/1p3Bn1/3B3R/PPP4P/2K3R1 b - - 2 22

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