Chess Puzzle #RIiZ6 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h6; rooks d1/h1; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f4. Black: king f6; queen b8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight e7; pawns a5/b7/c5/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng8 — knight e7→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen h6→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f6→g7).
3. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
4. Best move: Qh4+ — queen h7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g6→g5).
5. Best move: Qxg5# — queen h4→g5, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxg5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rq3r2/1p2np1p/3pbkpQ/p1p1p3/4PP2/8/PPP1N3/2KR3R b - - 0 20

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