Chess Puzzle #1JJaU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen f5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f3/g6. Black: king g8; queen d2; bishop e7; pawns a7/c6/d5/f4/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen d2→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen f7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop e7→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p3b1p1/2p3P1/3p1Q2/3P1p2/2P2P1K/PP1q4/8 b - - 0 39

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