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

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rook c1; knight g1; pawns a5/b3/g2/h4. Black: king g7; queen f2; rook e7; knight e3; pawns b7/f7/g3/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g7→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c8→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
5. Best move: Qd6# — queen h6→d6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Qd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p2rpk1/8/P5Qp/7P/1P2n1p1/5qP1/2R3NK b - - 2 38

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