Chess Puzzle #lDF8S — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen f4; rook e1; bishop e5; pawns a4/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen c2; rooks g7/h1; bishop b7; pawns a6/b6/c4/d5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe1 — rook h1→e1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f4→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f8→g7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, pin, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1b4r1/pp6/3pB3/P1pP1Q2/2P2K2/1Pq2PP1/4R2r b - - 13 40

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