Chess Puzzle #1Cb4E — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rook a1; knight d6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c2; rook g6; bishop h4; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen c2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f3→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g6→g8).
4. Best move: Nf7# — knight d6→f7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Nf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp5p/2nNp1r1/8/3P3b/2P2Q1P/PPq3P1/R6K b - - 0 24

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