Chess Puzzle #g9vR2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen g3; rook d1; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c4. Black: king b8; queens e4/h1; rook d8; pawns a7/b6/g6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb7 — king b8→b7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7+ — queen g3→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka6 (king b7→a6).
3. Best move: Nb4+ — knight d5→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king a6→a5).
4. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen c7→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb4 (king a5→b4, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxb6+ — queen a7→b6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc4 (king b4→c4, captures pawn).
6. Best move: b3+ — pawn b2→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc3 (king c4→c3).
7. Best move: Qc5+ — queen b6→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen e4→c4).
8. Best move: Qxc4# — queen c5→c4, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

deflection, endgame, fork, mate, mate in 5, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxc4# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/p7/1p4p1/3N4/2P1q3/6Q1/PP6/K2R3q b - - 0 38

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