Chess Puzzle #T56tD — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a2/c1; pawns d4/e5/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e2; rook a8; knight e3; pawns g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook a8→a2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen b3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
4. Best move: Rc6+ — rook c8→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g6→f5).
5. Best move: Qh7+ — queen g8→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg4 (king f5→g4).
6. Best move: Qe4+ — queen h7→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king g4→h5).
7. Best move: Qh4# — queen e4→h4, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 5, very long. The combination ends with Qh4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r6k/6p1/7p/4P3/3P4/1Q2n1P1/R3q2P/2R3K1 b - - 0 43

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