Chess Puzzle #0FW36 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rook a1; bishop b3; knight h2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/d6. Black: king e8; queen h3; rooks a8/h8; knight h5; pawns a6/b5/c7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king e8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e2→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d7→c6).
3. Best move: Qxc7# — queen e7→c7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/2p2p2/p2P3p/1p4pn/8/1B1P3q/PPP1Q2N/R6K b kq - 0 24

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