Chess Puzzle #21WbP — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook h7; knight e4; pawns a3/d4/e5/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen b8; rook c8; bishop f8; knight b6; pawns a6/e6/h6. 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: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Qg8# — queen g4→g8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qg8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1qr2b1k/7R/pn2p2p/4P3/3PN1Q1/P5P1/7P/6K1 b - - 0 33

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