Chess Puzzle #1GD27 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen g1; rook a1; bishops d2/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops g7/h5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen g1→g7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qg3 (queen g7→g3).
3. Best move: Qxg3# — queen h4→g3, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxg3# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/ppp2pbp/3p4/7b/4PP2/2N5/PPPB4/R3KBQ1 w Qkq - 0 15

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