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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks f1/f3; bishop c2; knight a1; pawns a3/b2/d4/e5/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook d8; bishops e8/g5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf7 (bishop e8→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king f8→f7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Bg6+ — bishop c2→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
6. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
7. Best move: Qxg7# — queen h8→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, deflection, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3rb1k1/pp3pp1/1qn1p3/3pP1b1/3P4/P2Q1R2/1PB4P/N4RK1 b - - 5 24

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