Chess Puzzle #8MCUp — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen g6; rooks a2/g3; bishop c2; knight f5; pawns a4/c3/e6/h2. Black: king h8; queen c1; rooks e7/f8; bishop d5; pawns a6/b6/c4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe7 — knight f5→e7, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf1+ — queen c1→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e2→d2).
3. Best move: Rf2+ — rook f8→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king d2→e3).
4. Best move: Re2+ — rook f2→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kd4 (king e3→d4).
5. Best move: Qf2+ — queen f1→f2, gives check. Opponent replies Re3 (rook g3→e3).
6. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen f2→e3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd5 (king d4→d5, captures bishop).
7. Best move: Qc5# — queen e3→c5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Qc5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/4r1p1/pp2P1Qp/3b1N2/P1p5/2P3R1/R1B1K2P/2q5 w - - 1 38

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