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

Position

White: king h2; queen e4; rook e1; bishop d3; pawns a3/b5/d5/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen c5; rook c8; bishops b7/d6; pawns a4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop b7→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen e4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b3pp1/3b3p/1PqP4/p3Q2P/P2B2P1/5P1K/4R3 b - - 3 33

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