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

Position

White: king b1; queen c3; rook d1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f4; rook g7; bishop e7; knight d4; pawns a6/b5/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne6 — knight d4→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxb5+ — bishop d3→b5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qc6+ — queen c3→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
4. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Nd8 (knight e6→d8).
5. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop e7→d8, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 5, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/4bprp/p4p2/1p6/3n1q2/2QB4/PPP4P/1K1R4 b - - 1 26

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