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

Position

White: king h1; rooks b8/c1; knight f3; pawns f4/f5/h3. Black: king h7; rooks a2/d2; bishop a6; pawns e6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e6→f5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook b8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h6→g6).
4. Best move: Rc6+ — rook c1→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Rd6 (rook d2→d6).
5. Best move: Rxd6# — rook c6→d6, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, epaulette mate, mate, mate in 4, very long. The combination ends with Rxd6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1R6/6pk/b3p3/5P1p/5P2/5N1P/r2r4/2R4K b - - 2 38

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