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

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/e1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen a7; rooks c8/h8; bishops b7/f8; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/d7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop b7→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf7 (bishop d5→f7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e2→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe7 (bishop f8→e7, captures queen).
4. Best move: dxe7+ — pawn d6→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d8→e8).
5. Best move: Rxc8# — rook c1→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, clearance, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2rk1b1r/qb1p1pp1/p2P1n1p/1p2N3/8/3B4/PP2QPPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 20

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