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

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; bishop c2; knight e1; pawns b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook e7; bishop h5; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa1 — queen a2→a1. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d2→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e7→e8).
3. Best move: Qxe8# — queen d8→e8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, fork, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp2rpp1/7p/2p4b/8/8/qPBQ2PP/4N2K b - - 1 28

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