Chess Puzzle #O5DTc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishops e5/g6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop g6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Bxg7+ — bishop e5→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qg6+ — queen c2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
5. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop e7→f8, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qg8# — queen g6→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp2b1p1/2p2nBp/4B3/2P4q/2N5/PPQ3PP/R4R1K b - - 0 17

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