Chess Puzzle #K4Fi2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen c4; knight e7; pawns b3/d6/e4/h3. Black: king h7; rooks a1/a2; bishop f4; knight f8; pawns b4/e5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen c4→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
3. Best move: Ng8+ — knight e7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
4. Best move: Qf6# — queen f7→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5n2/4N2k/3P2p1/4p2p/1pQ1Pb2/1P3K1P/r7/r7 b - - 9 40

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