Chess Puzzle #4Fo0M — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d5; rooks b1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a4/g2. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks a8/h4; bishops c8/g7; pawns a5/b7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen d8→f8, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/1p4bp/8/p2Q4/P6r/3B4/5KPq/1R3R2 b - - 0 27

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