Chess Puzzle #E9Hod — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; rook e6; bishop f3; knight c5; pawns a3/b4/g3. Black: king c8; queen h3; rook d4; pawns a6/b5/c7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg3 — queen h3→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook d4→d8).
3. Best move: Bb7+ — bishop f3→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook e8→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ka7 (king b8→a7).
5. Best move: Ra8+ — rook d8→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king a7→b6).
6. Best move: Rxa6# — rook a8→a6, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, epaulette mate, hook mate, mate, mate in 5, opera mate, very long. The combination ends with Rxa6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k5/2p5/p3R3/1pN5/1P1r4/P4BPq/4K3/8 b - - 0 47

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