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

Position

White: king e2; queen h5; rook h3; bishop f5; pawns c4/f2/f7/h2. Black: king h7; queen g1; rooks f8/g6; bishop b7; pawns a7/b6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, pin, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pb3P1k/1p4rp/5B1Q/2P5/7R/4KP1P/6q1 b - - 0 30

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