Chess Puzzle #EQ3a6 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/e1; knight f6; pawns a2/d5/e2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen e7; rooks b2/h8; bishop h3; pawns a7/c7/d6/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen d4→b2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen e7→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qf2 — queen e3→f2. Opponent replies Rg1 (rook e1→g1).
4. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen f2→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king h1→h2, captures queen).
5. Best move: Bf1+ — bishop h3→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Nh5 (knight f6→h5).
6. Best move: Rxh5# — rook h8→h5, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 7r/p1p1qk2/3p1Np1/3P4/3Q4/6Pb/Pr2P2P/R3R1K1 w - - 1 21

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