Chess Puzzle #vECth — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rooks b6/f1; pawns g2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks e4/e8; pawns a5/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf5 — rook f1→f5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook e4→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh4 (pawn g3→h4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f5→f1).
4. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook e1→f1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king h1→h2).
5. Best move: Qxh4# — queen c4→h4, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

clearance, endgame, mate, mate in 4, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5p2/1R1Q4/p7/2q1r2P/6P1/6P1/5R1K w - - 1 37

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