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

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; rook a4; pawns f2/g3/h6. Black: king g8; queen c3; rook f8; knight h8; pawns a3/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen c3→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf6 — queen g5→f6. Opponent replies Qb2 (queen b3→b2).
3. Best move: h7+ — pawn h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rh4+ — rook a4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
5. Best move: Rxh8# — rook h4→h8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, endgame, kill-box mate, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Rxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rkn/5p2/6pP/6Q1/R7/p1q3P1/5P1K/8 b - - 1 36

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