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

Position

White: king h2; queen h6; rook e8; knight g5; pawns b3/b4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook c1; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/d3/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe8 — knight f6→e8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4R1k1/5p1p/p2q1npQ/1p4N1/1P3P2/1P1p3P/6PK/2r5 b - - 1 32

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