Chess Puzzle #1wp9E — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king h1; queen a5; rook b1; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king a7; queen f2; rooks c6/h8; pawns g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra6 — rook c6→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7+ — queen a5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king a7→a8).
3. Best move: Qb7# — queen c7→b7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qb7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 7r/k5pp/2r5/Q7/8/8/P4qPP/1R5K b - - 0 30

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