Chess Puzzle #phqgq — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/d1; bishop a3; knight f1; pawns a2/b3/c5/e3/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c7; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen e2→d2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qh3 — queen d7→h3. Opponent replies Ng3 (knight f1→g3).
4. Best move: Bxg3 — bishop c7→g3, captures knight. Opponent replies fxg3 (pawn f2→g3, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h3→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
6. Best move: Rh2# — rook h8→h2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1pbq1p2/p5p1/2Ppn3/8/BP2P3/P3QPP1/2RR1NK1 w kq - 5 25

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