Chess Puzzle #Sj9Qc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks f1/h3; knight h4; pawns a3/b2/c3/e5/f7/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b6; rooks f8/g7; bishops b7/c5; pawns a6/c4/d3/e6/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen d2→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight h4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
5. Best move: Rh8# — rook h3→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, double check, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/1b3Prk/pq2p1pp/2b1P3/2p4N/P1Pp3R/1P1Q2PP/5R1K b - - 1 28

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