Chess Puzzle #07OUg — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen f3; rooks a1/f2; bishop f5; knight d5; pawns b5/c2/d4/e5. Black: king b8; queen g5; rooks f8/g8; bishops c4/h6; pawns b6/c7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook f8→f5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a1→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa8 (king b8→a8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxb6+ — knight d5→b6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka7 (king a8→a7).
4. Best move: Qa3+ — queen f3→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king a7→b7).
5. Best move: Qa6+ — queen a3→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king b7→b8).
6. Best move: Qa8# — queen a6→a8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, discovered check, double check, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qa8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k3rr1/2p5/1p5b/1P1NPBqp/2bP4/5Q1K/2P2R2/R7 b - - 0 33

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