Chess Puzzle #1Ah3E — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen e2; rook c1; knight d6; pawns b3/c2/f4/f7/g4. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a2/b8; pawns d7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king g8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook b8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: fxe8=Q# — pawn f7→e8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with fxe8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/3p1Ppp/3N3q/8/5PP1/1P6/r1PKQ3/2R5 b - - 0 41

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