Chess Puzzle #sQSTI — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks c2/e2; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/d3/f4/h3. Black: king h6; queen h1; bishop f6; knights f1/g3; pawns a6/b5/d4/g6/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf2 — king g1→f2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight g3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe4 (rook e2→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bh4+ — bishop f6→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f2→e2).
4. Best move: Ng3+ — knight f1→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e2→d2).
5. Best move: Nxe4+ — knight g3→e4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d3→e4, captures knight).
6. Best move: Qe1+ — queen h1→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd3 (king d2→d3).
7. Best move: Qe3# — queen e1→e3, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, fork, master, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qe3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/3Q4/p4bpk/1p2N2p/3p1P2/1P1P2nP/P1R1R3/5nKq w - - 4 43

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