Chess Puzzle #3CaOl — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rook e7; bishop c4; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook d8; bishop d7; knight d6; pawns a5/b4/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight d6→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/3bRppp/1q1n4/p1p3P1/1pB5/1P3Q1P/P1P2P1K/8 b - - 1 29

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