Chess Puzzle #19UzY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen b3; rook f3; pawns a4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f1; rook e8; pawns a5/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen f1→e2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f3→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5ppp/2p5/p7/P7/1Q3R1P/6PK/5q2 b - - 1 31

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