Chess Puzzle #285PF — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d7; rook g2; bishop b3; knight c5; pawns a2/f2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook b8; knight e1; pawns d3/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen e5→c5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qf6# — queen f7→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, master, master vs master, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/3Q1p1p/6p1/2N1q3/8/1B1p4/P4PR1/1K2n3 b - - 5 38

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