Chess Puzzle #4zO2g — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; rooks d1/f1; knights d4/d6; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g4; pawns a7/b7/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd1 — bishop g4→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight d6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen b6→d8).
5. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen c8→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
6. Best move: Qxf8# — queen d8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/pp4pp/1q1N4/4p3/2QN2b1/8/PPP3PP/3R1R1K b - - 0 18

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