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

Position

White: king c1; queen h3; rook h1; bishop e3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5. Black: king h7; queen c6; rooks f5/f8; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/c5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen c6→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qh7# — queen h6→h7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

master, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/4n2k/p1q4p/1pp1Pr2/4N3/4B2Q/PPP5/2K4R b - - 1 29

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