Chess Puzzle #1sIaY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d6; rooks g7/h1; pawns a3/b2/d5. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks b8/f2; pawns a7/c5/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxg7 — king g8→g7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen d6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h6→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/p4pR1/3Q4/2pPp3/4q3/P7/1P3r2/2K4R b - - 0 30

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