Chess Puzzle #hm41f — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2532 · Master · endgame, exposed king, mate, mate in 5, quiet move, sacrifice.

Position

White: king f5; rook f6; bishop g5; pawns b3/c4/g3. Black: king g7; rook d3; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/e4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh6+ — bishop g5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
  3. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king h7→h6, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: g4 — pawn g3→g4. Opponent replies e2 (pawn e3→e2).
  5. Best move: g5+ — pawn g4→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king h6→h5).
  6. Best move: Rh7# — rook f7→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, exposed king, mate, mate in 5, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/pp4k1/5R2/2p2KB1/1nPpp3/1P1r2P1/8/8 b - - 5 43

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