Chess Puzzle #Z68dk — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d3; queen c3; knight d4; pawns e6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen b6; knight e7; pawns a5/d5/f5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxe6 — pawn f7→e6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf5+ — knight d4→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
3. Best move: Qg7+ — queen c3→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
4. Best move: Qxe7# — queen g7→e7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

double check, endgame, long, mate, mate in 3. The combination ends with Qxe7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/4npk1/1q2P1pp/p2p1p2/3N4/2QK4/5PPP/8 b - - 0 42

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