Chess Puzzle #0Jfja — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rook c6; bishop f4; pawns c4/h4. Black: king c8; queen b4; rook e8; knight e7; pawns a4/b6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight e7→c6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen d5→c6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king c8→d8).
3. Best move: Qc7# — queen c6→c7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/4n3/1pR5/3Q4/pqP2B1P/8/8/7K b - - 4 41

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