Chess Puzzle #1AjXE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen a2; rooks c7/f4; bishop d3; knight d1; pawns c2/e4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c1; rooks a8/d8; pawns a7/f6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen c1→f4, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen a2→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg7# — queen f7→g7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/p1R2ppp/5p2/8/4PR2/3B4/Q1P1K2P/2qN4 b - - 0 26

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