Chess Puzzle #1eOz1 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen g7; rooks a1/h1; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks b5/h8; bishop e4; knight g8; pawns a7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen c7→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Qd7# — queen f7→d7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qd7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4k1nr/p1q2pQp/8/1r2N3/3Pb3/2N5/P4PPP/R2K3R b k - 1 21

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