Chess Puzzle #ZU04H — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks a1/e1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g2/g5. Black: king f8; queen f2; rook a8; bishops b6/h7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f4/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg6 — bishop h7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
3. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen h8→e5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
4. Best move: Qd5+ — queen e5→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
5. Best move: Re8# — rook e1→e8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Re8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/ppp2p1b/1b6/4n1P1/5p2/3P3Q/PPP2qP1/R3R2K b - - 1 23

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