Chess Puzzle #1DpU4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rook d8; bishop h7; pawns a4/b2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c6; rook f7; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/c5/f6/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen c3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h3→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3R3k/1p2nr1B/p1q2pp1/2p5/P4P2/2Q5/1P4PP/6K1 b - - 0 27

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