Chess Puzzle #0660Y — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; bishop g2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/d7/h3. Black: king h8; queen f4; rook d8; pawns a3/b5/c5/d4/g6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen f4→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: dxe8=Q# — pawn d7→e8, captures rook, promotes to queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, promotion, short. The combination ends with dxe8=Q# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/3P2pp/4Q1p1/1pp5/3p1q2/pP1P3P/P1P3B1/6K1 b - - 0 30

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