Chess Puzzle #JpFG7 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d2; rook a7; bishop e3; knights b5/c3; pawns b2/c2/g4/h4. Black: king e8; queen c4; rooks c8/h8; bishops b4/h1; pawns d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg4 — queen c4→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen d2→d7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxc8# — queen d7→c8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

fork, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/R2p1ppp/4p3/1N6/1bq3PP/2N1B3/1PPQ1K2/7b b k - 1 19

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