Chess Puzzle #QnO7c — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook f7; pawns a3/d6/h3/h7. Black: king h8; queen b2; rook a8; bishop f6; pawns c4/e7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa3 — rook a8→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
4. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f8→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
5. Best move: Qh7# — queen h5→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/4pR1P/3P1b2/8/2p5/P4Q1P/1q6/7K b - - 2 30

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