Chess Puzzle #JC460 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rook f7; pawns a4/c5/d4/e6/h2. Black: king h8; queen a5; rook e8; bishop e3; pawns c6/c7/d5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bh6 — bishop e3→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f1→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Rg7+ — rook f7→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg7 (bishop h6→g7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
5. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
6. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/2p2R1p/2p1P1p1/q1Pp4/P2P4/4b3/7P/5Q1K b - - 1 35

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