Chess Puzzle #OTBt9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook d4; bishop f5; pawns a3/e4/g2. Black: king b8; queen g3; rook h8; bishop b5; knight e3; pawns a7/b7/c6/g4/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen g3→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b8→c7).
3. Best move: Qa5+ — queen d2→a5, gives check. Opponent replies b6 (pawn b7→b6).
4. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a5→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king c7→d8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qd7# — queen a7→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/pp6/2p4p/1b3B2/3RP1p1/P3n1q1/3Q2P1/6K1 b - - 2 31

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