Chess Puzzle #2N9lM — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f4; rooks a1/h1; knights b1/c2; pawns a3/c3/e6/g5. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a5/e8; bishops f5/g7; pawns c6/d5/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc2 — bishop f5→c2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f4→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/4p1bp/1qp1P1p1/r2p1bP1/5Q2/P1P5/2N5/RN2K2R b KQ - 0 21

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