Chess Puzzle #2cOUY — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e6; rooks a1/h1; bishop d2; knight g3; pawns a4/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/g6. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishops e7/h7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg8 — bishop h7→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h1→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: g7+ — pawn g6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Nh5+ — knight g3→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
5. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen e6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh7 (bishop g8→h7).
6. Best move: Qg7# — queen h6→g7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r1k/ppqnb1pb/4Q1Pp/3p4/P2P4/2P3N1/1P1B1PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 19

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