Chess Puzzle #d1eea — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rook e1; bishop d3; knight g5; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/c6/c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook e8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/p1p2ppp/2pp4/6N1/8/3B4/Pq4PP/4RQ1K b - - 1 18

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