Chess Puzzle #kM16t — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen h4; rooks h1/h7; pawns a4/b2/d3/e4/f4/g5. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks c2/f5; bishops b3/g7; pawns a5/b4/d4/d6/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen d7→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook h7→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
4. Best move: Rh7+ — rook h1→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
5. Best move: Qg8+ — queen h8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f5→f7).
6. Best move: Qxf7# — queen g8→f7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, exposed king, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3q2bR/3p2p1/p4rP1/Pp1pPP1Q/1b1P4/1Pr5/1K5R b - - 1 31

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