Chess Puzzle #2EfyW — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; knight h2; pawns a3/b4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b8; rook c8; bishop e4; pawns a6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc2 — rook c8→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f2→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen b8→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook f1→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1qr3k1/5ppp/p7/3p4/1P2b3/P6P/5QPN/5RK1 b - - 2 30

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