Chess Puzzle #17khZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d2; knight g4; pawns d4/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen a3; rook b3; bishop f5; pawns b2/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b1=Q — pawn b2→b1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen d2→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Nf6# — knight g4→f6, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Nf6# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/5pk1/4p1p1/5b2/3PP1N1/qr4P1/1p1Q1K1P/8 b - - 0 44

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