2025/04/11 DPA: "Storming [The] Castles"

White to move:

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Material:  Black is up 2 pawns; one of them is passed.

White's Rook is hanging.

White has pressure on f7 via the Queen and f Rook.

1. Qxf7 Kxf7 [1. ... Kh8/7  2. Qxg7#]  2. Ne7^++#.

Am I missing something?

Oh, 2. Ne7 is not a double check so 2. ... Qf6 blocks check.

2. Nxh6 is a double-check but now g6 is undefended so 2. ... Kg6 escapes.

2. Nxd6 is also a double check but 2. ... Kg8 and what does White do?

3. Rxe8+ Qxe8

Wait a minute:  2. Ne7 blocks the Black Queen from getting to f6.  So it is checkmate after 2. ... Bf4  3. Rxf4#.

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Like last Sunday's puzzle, the Queen sac on f7 drew the King out towards White's attack [declining leads to a simple checkmate on g7] and 2. Ne7^ [discovered check] was the coup d'grace [the subsequent Bishop block only delayed matters], as it A) exposed the King to check along the f file, removing 2 escape squares; B) positioned the Knight to control g8 and g6; and C) enjoyed the protection of the other Rook.

All other potential escape squares were occupied by Black's own forces.