Chess Puzzle #7Oofs — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks e7/f1; bishop b3; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d3; rook f8; bishop f7; knights d7/e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd7 — queen d6→d7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen d3→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nf2+ — knight e4→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qc1+ — queen e3→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Bd1 (bishop b3→d1).
5. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen c1→d1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e7→e1).
6. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen d1→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf1 (rook f2→f1).
7. Best move: Qxf1# — queen e1→f1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxf1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp1nRbpp/2pQ4/3p4/N2Pn3/1BPq4/PP4PP/5RK1 w - - 11 24

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