Chess Puzzle #FSvQ6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h7; rook f2; bishop d2; knight b5; pawns a2/b4/c4. Black: king d8; queen f6; rook b8; bishop c6; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/e6/f3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen f6→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bg5 — bishop d2→g5. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen e7→g5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen h7→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d8→e8).
4. Best move: Nd6+ — knight b5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
5. Best move: Qf7# — queen c7→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, fork, mate, mate in 4, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r1k4/1p5Q/p1b1pq2/1Np5/1PPp4/5p2/P2B1R2/7K b - - 0 31

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