Chess Puzzle #1dJTh — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks f1/h3; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop h6; knight d7; pawns a6/b6/c7/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen d2→h6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qxh8# — queen h6→h8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r2q1r2/2pn1p1k/pp1p2pb/8/2PP4/2P2N1R/P2Q1PPP/5RK1 b - - 1 19

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