Chess Puzzle #0rm1g — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c4; rook h1; bishop d3; pawns a2/d2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a3/h8; knight d5; pawns b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa5 — queen d8→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen a5→d8).
3. Best move: Qxd8# — queen c8→d8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 3q2kr/1p3ppp/4p3/3nP3/2QP4/r2B4/P2P1PPP/4K2R b K - 0 21

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