Chess Puzzle #1uGS4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/h7; bishops b2/b3; pawns d6/e3/f5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight e5; pawns a3/b5/c6/d7/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king h8→h7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d4→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen e8→h5).
3. Best move: Qxh5# — queen h4→h5, captures queen, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r1b1qr1k/3p2pR/2pP1p2/1p2nP2/3Q4/pB2P3/1B4PP/R5K1 b - - 0 24

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