Chess Puzzle #3jPpq — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rook f1; knights g7/h4; pawns b5/e3/f2/g2/h5. Black: king f8; queen d7; rooks d1/e8; bishops a3/e6; pawns a7/b6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf7 — bishop e6→f7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g7→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe6 (rook e8→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
4. Best move: Qh8+ — queen f6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bg8 (bishop f7→g8).
5. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen h8→g8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop a3→f8).
6. Best move: Qxf8# — queen g8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4rk2/p2q2N1/1p2bQ1p/1P5P/7N/b3P3/5PP1/3r1RK1 b - - 0 31

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