Chess Puzzle #XL9KK — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c1; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight h6; pawns a3/b2/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishops a6/d6; knight c4; pawns a5/c6/d4/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf5+ — knight h6→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen c1→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf5 (king f6→f5, captures knight).
4. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke4 (king f5→e4).
5. Best move: Bg2# — bishop f1→g2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Bg2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/2q2p2/b1pb3N/p3p3/2np4/P6P/1PP2PP1/R1Q1KB1R b KQ - 0 24

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