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

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/f7; bishop c8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen e8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bd6+ — bishop f4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
5. Best move: Rf8# — rook f1→f8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, discovered check, double check, kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, opera mate, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/pp1p1rpp/2n2n2/3N3q/5B2/8/PP4PP/R3QR1K b - - 5 16

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