Chess Puzzle #b1PCK — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen a8; rooks d1/e1; bishop d2; knight a4; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/f2/f3. Black: king g8; queen h3; bishops c8/h2; knight h5; pawns c5/c6/d5/e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight a4→b6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight h5→g3, gives check. Opponent replies fxg3 (pawn f2→g3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qg2+ — queen h3→g2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king e2→e3).
4. Best move: Bg1+ — bishop h2→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg1 (rook e1→g1, captures bishop).
5. Best move: d4+ — pawn d5→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke4 (king e3→e4).
6. Best move: Qe2+ — queen g2→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop d2→e3).
7. Best move: Qxe3# — queen e2→e3, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: Q1b3k1/6pp/2p5/2ppp2n/N7/1P1P1P1q/P1PBKP1b/3RR3 w - - 0 24

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