Chess Puzzle #5YCFa — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen f7; bishop b3; pawns a2/c3/d3/e4/g5/h3. Black: king h8; queen b2; bishop e5; knights c5/f6; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Ng8 (knight f6→g8).
3. Best move: Qxg8# — queen f8→g8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1pp2Q2/p2p1n2/2n1b1P1/4P3/1BPP1K1P/Pq6/8 b - - 0 42

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