Chess Puzzle #lXC5C — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen b8; rooks f2/g2; pawns b2/h5. Black: king g8; queen c6; rook a1; knight e6; pawns c2/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h6+ — pawn h5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king g7→h6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rh2+ — rook g2→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
4. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h2→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rh2+ — rook f2→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
6. Best move: Qh8# — queen b8→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, mate, mate in 5, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1Q4k1/5p1p/2q1n1p1/7P/8/8/1PpK1RR1/r7 b - - 1 32

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