Chess Puzzle #Q4wzw — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks e1/e7; knights a3/c6; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen d6; rooks b8/g7; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/c5/d4/f6/f7/h4. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb8 — knight c6→b8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g7→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
3. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook g2→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf2 (king f1→f2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qh2+ — queen d6→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king f2→f1).
5. Best move: Qg2# — queen h2→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r3k2/1b2Rpr1/p1Nq1p2/1pp4Q/3p3p/N2P3P/PPP2PP1/4R1K1 w - - 3 24

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