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

Position

White: king f3; queen h3; rook h5; knight e2; pawns e3/e4/g5/h2. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks b2/g7; pawns a6/b7/c6/e5/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe2 — rook b2→e2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen h3→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h5→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qh3+ — queen c8→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
5. Best move: Qh6# — queen h3→h6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 4, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1p3prp/p1p2p2/4p1PR/4P3/4PK1Q/qr2N2P/8 b - - 0 26

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