Chess Puzzle #CT5Ry — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen b3; rooks a1/c7; knights b5/e1; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen g4; rooks g5/g8; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/d5/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook c7→b7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxg2+ — queen g4→g2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg2 (knight e1→g2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g5→g2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h2→h3).
4. Best move: R2g6 — rook g2→g6. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen b3→d5, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Rh6+ — rook g6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen d5→h5).
6. Best move: Rxh5# — rook h6→h5, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 5, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/pbR2p1p/1p3p2/1N1p2r1/3P2q1/1Q2P3/PP3PPK/R3N3 w - - 1 18

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