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

Position

White: king h2; queen h4; bishop g2; knight g5; pawns a2/e2/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook a8; bishops b7/h8; pawns a6/c6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf6 — bishop h8→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen h7→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5kb/1b3p1p/p1p3p1/6N1/7Q/6P1/P3PPBK/q7 b - - 1 25

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