Chess Puzzle #1iOX5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook a1; bishops c1/d3; pawns a2/e5/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen c3; rook a8; bishop e7; knight g4; pawns a7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa1 — queen c3→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen e4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p3bppp/2p1p3/4P3/4Q1nP/2qB2P1/P7/R1B3K1 b - - 1 21

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