Daily chess puzzle: Check Mate #374
Another puzzle from Dragoslav Andric’s 1981 book “Matni Udar”.
White to play and mate Black
Karaklajic v Nikolic, Pristina 1973
Solution
The Nc6 is tied to defending a7, so 1 Qa5!!
1…Ne8[] to defend c7, when 3 Qd8+!! is a fine finish: 3…Nd8[] 4 Na7 mate.
The game is in Megabase, and is a nice example of an early Q sortie, grabbing a pawn, falling behind in development, being punished.
FEN
2k2b1r/1p2pppp/p1n2n2/1Np2q2/Q1P5/5NB1/PP3PPP/3R2K1 w – – 0 16
allanbeardsworth 
Just as an FYI, there’s an error in the first image. The Q is already on a5 when the FEN has her on a4.
Thank you very much, James. I have amended the diagram.
Instead of 1…Ne7??, black can avoid mate by playing 1…Qd7 and hope for a Q trade. White can maintain the advantage by forcing him to trade his Q for a R with 2.Na7+ Nxa7+ 3.Rxd7 Kxd7 and Black’s chances of even drawing are still slim.