Chess Puzzle #B7bHl — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c3; queen g3; bishops c1/c4; knights d4/d5; pawns a3/b2/d3/e4/f4. Black: king f7; queen h8; rook h2; bishop d7; knight a1; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f4→f5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rc2+ — rook h2→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb4 (king c3→b4).
3. Best move: a5+ — pawn a7→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa5 (king b4→a5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qa8+ — queen h8→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Ba6 (bishop c4→a6).
5. Best move: Qxa6+ — queen a8→a6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kb4 (king a5→b4).
6. Best move: c5# — pawn c7→c5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, pin, very long. The combination ends with c5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7q/pppb1k2/3p4/3N4/2BNPP2/P1KP2Q1/1P5r/n1B5 w - - 9 38

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