Chess Puzzle #0EpPu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rook f1; knight f7; pawns a4/b2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b3; rooks a8/g7; bishop c8; pawns a5/b7/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen b3→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b5/1p3Nrk/4p2p/p7/P3P2Q/1q6/1P4PP/5R1K b - - 0 27

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