Chess Puzzle #DsPSM — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook e7; bishop d3; knight f5; pawns b4/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b6; rook c3; knights d7/f6; pawns b7/c6/d5/g6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf5 — pawn g6→f5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen f4→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen f5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe8 (knight f6→e8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e6→e8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
6. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 8/1p1nR1pk/1qp2npp/3p1N2/1P1P1Q2/2rB1P2/6PP/6K1 b - - 1 26

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