Chess Puzzle #4qIf3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; bishop d5; knight e6; pawns b2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; rook a7; bishop f5; knights d6/e7; pawns a5/d4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight e7→d5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen g5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Ne8 (knight d6→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/r3n1pp/3nN3/p2B1bQ1/3p4/7P/1P4PK/8 b - - 15 39

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