Chess Puzzle #0fl9j — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishop d5; knight g8; pawns c4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe4 — bishop d5→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d2→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen d7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/5ppp/4p3/2qbN3/2p1P3/8/P2Q1PPP/RN3RK1 b kq - 0 17

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