Chess Puzzle #zhC4G — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rooks a1/d1; bishop e2; knights d5/e5; pawns a2/b2/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe2 — queen f2→e2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight e5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
5. Best move: Rxf8# — rook d8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp3bp/n5p1/3NN3/2P1p3/2Q5/PP2BqPP/R2R3K b - - 1 16

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