Chess Puzzle #jyhHL — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a7; rooks c1/f4; knight e4; pawns a2/d5/g3. Black: king c8; queen b5; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/h3. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen b5→e2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king d7→e7).
4. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c1→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rd7 (rook d8→d7).
5. Best move: Rxd7# — rook c7→d7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The combination ends with Rxd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/Qpp5/p2p4/1q1P4/4NR2/6Pp/P7/2R4K b - - 1 25

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