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

Position

White: king f1; queen f3; knights e1/e5; pawns a3/c3/e4/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d2; rook b2; bishop e7; pawns a4/b5/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb1 — rook b2→b1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, 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, fork, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4bppp/2p5/1p2N3/p3P3/P1P2QP1/1r1q1PP1/4NK2 b - - 2 32

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