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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; bishop b2; knight e4; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; bishop c4; pawns a7/b5/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen e7→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen e4→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p1p1qppp/8/1p6/1Pb1N3/P3P3/1B3PPP/3Q2K1 b - - 0 21

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