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

Position

White: king g2; queen h6; rooks h1/h4; bishop e5; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/d8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd3 — rook d8→d3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen h6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
4. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ng8 (knight f6→g8).
5. Best move: Rxg8+ — rook h8→g8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king f8→g8, captures rook).
6. Best move: Rh8# — rook h1→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, discovered attack, kingside attack, mate, mate in 5, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The combination ends with Rh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/1p2bp1p/p1q1pnpQ/4B3/7R/2P2NP1/PP3PK1/7R b - - 2 23

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