Chess Puzzle #5N8Vp — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f1; bishop d6; pawns b5/e7/h2. Black: king g8; queen c1; rook c8; pawns b7/c6/d5/e4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen c1→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: exf8=Q# — pawn e7→f8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with exf8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p2P2p/2pB2p1/1P1p4/4p3/8/7P/2q2QK1 b - - 1 42

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