Chess Puzzle #y15H1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rook e7; bishops a3/f3; knight e5; pawns d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h6; queen b3; rook c2; bishop a6; pawns b6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen b3→a3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng4+ — knight e5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook e7→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h5→g5).
4. Best move: h4+ — pawn h2→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g5→f5).
5. Best move: Rf7# — rook h7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, mate, mate in 4, pillsburys mate, very long. The combination ends with Rf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/4R2p/bp4pk/3PN3/8/Bq3BP1/2r2P1P/6K1 b - - 5 35

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