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

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; rooks c1/g1; pawns a3/b3/d5/f3/h3. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks e3/f8; pawns a6/b7/d6/f6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg4 — queen h5→g4, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg4+ — rook g1→g4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Rcg1 — rook c1→g1. Opponent replies Re2+ (rook e3→e2, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh1 — king h2→h1. Opponent replies Re5 (rook e2→e5).
5. Best move: Rh4+ — rook g4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Rh5 (rook e5→h5).
6. Best move: Rxh5# — rook h4→h5, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 5, quiet move, very long. The combination ends with Rxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p3p2/p2p1p2/3P3q/6Q1/PP2rP1P/7K/2R3R1 b - - 0 28

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