Chess Puzzle #196zE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rook e5; pawns a2/b4/c3/d4/e7/f2/h4. Black: king h8; queen b8; rook a8; bishop c1; knight e8; pawns a6/b5/c4/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bh6 — bishop c1→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f5→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop h6→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: exf8=Q# — pawn e7→f8, captures bishop, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with exf8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rq2n2k/4P2p/p7/1p2RQ2/1PpP3P/2P5/P4P2/2b3K1 b - - 0 34

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