Chess Puzzle #dev6d — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rook c1; bishop b1; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/f5/h2. Black: king h6; queen a5; rooks c8/f7; bishop b5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g4/g5. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen e5→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Rh7 (rook f7→h7).
3. Best move: Qf6+ — queen h8→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
4. Best move: Qg6+ — queen f6→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h5→h4).
5. Best move: Qxh7# — queen g6→h7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/pp3r2/4p2k/qb1pQPp1/3P2p1/1PP5/P6P/1BR3K1 b - - 1 32

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