Chess Puzzle #f65wv — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2321 · Expert · attraction, exposed king, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen e3; rooks f1/f8; knight e6; pawns b2/c3/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks a8/d7; bishop c6; pawns a6/b7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf8 — rook a8→f8, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: Rh8+ — rook f8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king h7→h8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qh6+ — queen e3→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
  5. Best move: Qf8+ — queen h6→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  6. Best move: Ng5# — knight e6→g5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, exposed king, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, very long. The combination ends with Ng5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4Rk1/1p1r4/p1b1N1p1/7p/2P1q3/2P1Q3/1P4PP/5R1K b - - 1 32

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.