Chess Puzzle #JcaDW — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h4; rook c1; pawns e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rook f5; bishop b5; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen b6→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
3. Best move: Qd8# — queen h4→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/5p2/pq2p3/1b1pPr2/5P1Q/7P/6PK/2R5 b - - 6 42

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