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

Position

White: king f1; queen h5; knight e6; pawns a3/b3/e4/f5. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks b2/g2; pawns a5/b5/d4/e5/h6/h7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh2 — rook g2→h2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen h5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen f6→f8).
3. Best move: Qxf8# — queen e8→f8, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7k/7p/4Nq1p/pp2pP1Q/3pP3/PP6/1r4r1/5K2 b - - 7 40

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