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

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rook f1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c7; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd8 — king e8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king d8→d7).
3. Best move: Bb5+ — bishop c4→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight b8→c6).
4. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f1→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Ne7 (knight g8→e7).
5. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen f8→e7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
6. Best move: Qxc7# — queen e7→c7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, pin, very long. The combination ends with Qxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rn2k1nr/ppb2Q1p/4p3/8/2Bq4/3P4/PPP3PP/5R1K b kq - 1 16

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