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

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks c1/c7; knight f3; pawns d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/b8; bishop g7; pawns a6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures bishop, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rr1q2k1/2R2pbp/p3p1p1/8/3P1Q2/5N2/5PPP/2R3K1 b - - 3 23

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